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HEARINGS 


BEFORE THE 


COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS 


OF THE 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 


ON 


ESTIMATES SUBMITTED BY THE SECRE¬ 
TARY OF THE NAVY. 


1906-1907. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING GFFIOE. 

1 907 . 





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BUREAU OF NAVIGATION—STATEMENT OF REAR-ADMIRAL 
GEORGE A. CONVERSE. 

Committee on Naval Affairs, 

Washington, D. C., December 10 , 1906. 

The committee met at 10.30 a. m., Hon. George E. Foss (chair¬ 
man) in the chair. 

The Chairman. We start in with pay of the Navy, “ Pay and 
allowances prescribed by law of officers on see duty.” I see this 
year you have stricken out the next three words, “ officers on shore.” 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. What is the reason for that? 

Admiral Converse. The abolishing of the distinction or discrimi¬ 
nation of 15 per cent less pay on shore makes the nay on shore the 
same as the pay on sea duty, and that renders those words unnec¬ 
essary. 

The Chairman. There seems to be no change, then, in last year’s 
law until we get down to page 3, where the number of men is 37,500 
instead of 34,500, an increase of 3,000. 

Admiral Converse. That is what we asked for last year, but it 
was not granted. 

The Chairman. How are you in the matter of enlistments of men ? 

Admiral Converse. About 4,500 short now, just at present. But 
w T e have established more recruiting stations than we have had be¬ 
fore, and the recruiting should begin to yield better results from 
this time on. 

The Chairman. Do you think you will need this full increase of 
3,000 men this coming year? 

Admiral Converse. That will depend very much on circumstances. 
There are a great many causes which are influencing and retarding 
the increase, among which is desertion, just at the present time. 
First, you may say, is the prosperity of the country. The second 
is the law which requires all persons under 18 years of age present¬ 
ing themselves for enlistment to produce a certificate of age or evi¬ 
dence other than their own statements that they are of the age 
required. Then there are the unfortunate reports that have been 
published in the papers in regard to mutinies, and so forth, on 
board ship—notably that recently on the Tennessee —absolutely 
without foundation, absolutely, but published in the South with very 
large headlines. Columns were devoted to it, and it has practically 
stopped enlistments there. Other causes have influenced or retarded 
enlistments. 


3 


4 


We have here in my annual report the number of applicants we 
received in the various cities throughout the United States, the 
number that we rejected for various causes, the number that failed 
to present themselves for enlistment after having passed because 
many of them could not produce certificates of birth, and finally, 
the number that were accepted. We had altogether last year 40,918 
applicants for enlistment, of whom we really enlisted only 13,418, 
rejecting the others for various causes—physical disability, unde¬ 
sirability, inability to produce a good record, etc. 

Mr. Loudenslager. What was the number enlisted ? 

Admiral Converse. Thirteen thousand four hundred and eighteen. 

The Chairman. This is in your report ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Loudenslager. How many were discharged and deserted dur¬ 
ing the year? 

Admiral Converse. The total number of discharges, retirements, 
and deaths was 8,701. 

Mr. Kitchin. Can you tell how many were desertions? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. The total number of desertions was 
3,998. The percentage of desertions based on the total number of 
men in the service was 9.04 per cent. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Three thousand nine hundred and ninety- 
eight ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Which made a little over 9 per cent? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; 44,222 was the total number of men in 
the Navy. 

Mr. Loudenslager. That was the total number of men in the 
Navy ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. We had when we started in at the be¬ 
ginning of the year 32,000, and we enlisted something like 13,000 
additional men. We have to take into consideration all those new 
men who had an opportunity to desert. That is the way the per¬ 
centage is worked out. The total number of men who enlisted 
during the year plus the number that we had at the beginning of 
the fiscal year was taken and the percentage of desertions figured 
out on that basis. The number of desertions is given in my report 
by ships and stations. 

Mr. Loudenslager. You have not any of those reports here? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; they have been sent to every member of 
the committee. 

Mr. Kitchin. How many men are there in the Navy now? 

Admiral Converse. About 32,000—a little over 32,000. We are 
lower just now than for some time on account of the withdrawing of 
two of our heavy ships from China and bringing them home with men 
whose terms of service have expired. The Ohio and the Wisconsin 
brought home 800 men each, and they have been discharged. Most 
of them were overtime, and the remainder were short-service men. 

Mr. Loudenslager. I understood you—perhaps misunderstood 
you—that you had an authorization of 4,500 more men than you have 
enlisted. 

Admiral Converse. Yes; more than we have got. 

Mr. Loudenslager. How would that make 32,000 in the service, 
then? 


5 


Admiral Converse. Because we are entitled to 37,000 men—the 
authorized enlisted men and apprentices at training stations as well 
as in the active fleet. 

Mr. Kitchin. Let me ask you right there, how many men will be 
necessary when you complete the ships that we now have? 

Admiral Converse. That was in my report of last year, and it has 
not materially changed since then. There has been hardly any 
change. To man the active fleet as it will stand when the vessels now 
authorized are built will require 37,283 men, the first reserve 3,309, 
and on shore stations 1,219, making a total of 41,811. That contem¬ 
plates putting in reserve a large number of the ships which have been 
in commission or have been built since 1894. 

The Chairman. Can you put those details in your hearing ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. The appended table will show the 
number of enlisted men which will be required when the ships now 
under construction are completed. 


A. Active fleet_37, 2S3 

B. First reserve_ 3. 309 

C. Shore stations___ 1,219 


Total_41,811 

To put ships of first reserve in commission and man all colliers with naval 

crews, add_ 7, 827 

To put ships of second reserve in commission, add_ 1, 986 

Men in training, in transit, and in hospitals (sick)__ 8,250 


Grand total_ 59, 874 

Under present law the enlistment force allowed is_ 37,000 


Shortage January 1, 1908_ 22, 874 

Add for battle ships South Carolina and Michigan appropriated for, to 

be completed about January 1, 1910_ 1, 600 


Total shortage, 1910_ 24, 474 

Mr. Loudenslager. I would like to ask you a question. The 


Admiral said some time ago why they were unable to have a greater 
enlistment in the Navy, naming the causes that operated against it. 

The Chairman. I suggest that that would come up later under the 
suggestions on recruiting. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Very well. 

The Chairman. On page 4 we find this proviso : 

Provided , That section seventeen of an act approved March third, eighteen 
hundred and ninety-nine, to reorganize and increase the efficiency of the per¬ 
sonnel of the Navy and Marine Corps of the Uited States, which section reads 
as follows: 11 And provided further, That applicants for retirement under this 
section shall, unless physically disqualified for service, be at least fifty years of 
age,” be, and the same is hereby, repealed. 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Will you kindly explain the purport of that 
provision. 

Admiral Converse. A boy enters the naval service as an appren¬ 
tice at 15 years old and he" will have to serve for thirty-five years 
before he retires. A man who enters the service at 25 years of age 
has only to serve twenty-five years before he can retire. Therefore it 
works a great injustice against the man who entered the service young. 

Mr. Mudd. Would you not want to have some law regulating that? 

















6 

Admiral Converse. We want to have stricken out this provision 
in regard to 50 years of age. 

Mr. Lotjdenslager. What would it be then? AVliat would the law 
be then for retirement ? 

Admiral Converse. For so many years’ service. 

Mr. Mudd. Is there any provision of existing law regulating that, 
if this be stricken out? 

Admiral Converse. The following addition has been added to the 
language of the act to regulate retirements of enlisted men hereafter: 

Provided, That section 17 of an act approved March 3, 1899, to reorganize and 
increase the efficiency of the personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps of the 
United States, which section reads as follows: “And provided further, That 
applicants for retirement under this section shall, unless physically disquali¬ 
fied for service, be at least fifty years of age,” be, and the same is hereby, 
repealed. 

The Bureau considers that the requirement that an enlisted man, 
unless physically disqualified for service, must be 50 years of age 
before becoming entitled to the privileges of retirement works a great 
injustice to the men of the Navy in comparison with the practice 
now prevailing in the Army and Marine Corps. In those two 
branches a man may retire after a service of thirty years without 
regard to his age, and, further, in computing this period of service 
time spent aboard ship or abroad counts double, which last privilege 
is not afforded the Navy. 

Mr. Lotjdenslager. Then there would be no regulation in regard 
to the retirement if this was repealed ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Lotjdenslager. Does it apply to the Navy? 

Admiral Converse. I think it does. 

Mr. Lotjdenslager. You did not read it there. You read what ap¬ 
plied to the Army and Marine Corps. 

Admiral Converse. It was my proposition to repeal that part of 
the act of March 3, 1899 requiring that applicants for retirement shall 
be 50 years of age. If we can get that act, we can see exactly how it 
reads. What we want is to put the Navy on an equality with the 
Army and the Marine Corps. 

The Chairman. Would this do it? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. In this particular feature ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. Section IT of the personnel bill reads as 
follows: 

Sec. 17. That when an enlisted man or appointed petty officer has served as 
such thirty years in the United States Navy, either as an enlisted man or petty 
officer, or both, he shall, by making application to the President, be placed on 
the retired list hereby created, with the rank held by him at the date of retire¬ 
ment; and he shall thereafter receive seventy-five per centum of the pay and 
allowances of the rank or rating upon which he was retired: Provided , That 
if said enlisted man or appointed petty officer had active service in the Navy or 
in the Army or Marine Corps, either as volunteer or regular, during the civil 
or Spanish-American war, such war service shall be computed as double time in 
computing the thirty years necessary to entitle him to be retired: And provided 
further, That applicants for retirement under this section shall, unless physically 
disqualified for service, be at least fifty years of age. 

That last proviso does not, I believe, apply either in the Army or 
the Marine Corps. It works injustice to the young men of the Navy. 

Mr. Loudenslager. It occurs to me that this would mean that the 


7 


whole section would be repealed, would it not, and we should make 
it apply only to that part of section 17 which reads so-and-so? 

The Chairman. The words “ that part of ” should be inserted be¬ 
fore the words “ section 17.” 

Mr. Louden slager. Yes. 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Pay, miscellaneous.” That is the 
Paymaster-General’s affair, is it? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. Then we pass over to page 12: 

Bureau of Navigation. Transportation, recruiting and contingent. Trans¬ 
portation : For travel allowance of enlisted men discharged on account of expi¬ 
ration of enlistment. 

That is new language. 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Will you kindly explain that. 

Admiral Converse. This additional clause is inserted in order that 
the proviso in the current act authorizing the payment of 4 cents a 
mile to enlisted men on discharge or expiration of enlistment may 
be omitted. It is not necessary that this proviso be continued in the 
act, and the additional clause above quoted is recommended as a 
substitute. Before the law was passed giving men discharged on 
account of expiration of enlistment 4 cents a mile they were allowed 
actual expenses to the place of enlistment. Now they are on an 
equality with the Army and the Marine Corps so far as receiving 
mileage is concerned. 

The Chairman. Was that done last year? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Which way is the most expensive? 

Mr. Kitchin. This is the law now, so that it does not make any 
difference about which is the most expensive. 

Admiral Converse. We are paying more for transportation this 
year than last year. We have not been able to make the special rates 
with various transportation companies that we were able to make 
prior to July 1. 

The Chairman. You are asking for an increase in this provision? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. Last year we appropriated $380,000, and this 
year you are asking for $450,000, an increase of $70,000. What 
does that arise from? 

Admiral Converse. A very considerable increase in this appro¬ 
priation is absolutely necessary from the fact that although the rail¬ 
road rates, which apply to private transportation both as regards 
passengers and freight, are probably less than heretofore, the Gov¬ 
ernment has not succeeded in procuring the favorable rates it has 
had in contracts for previous years, and in fact in many instances 
the rates which apply to Government transportation are the same 
as those which govern private transportation. 

Another reason for the necessity in increasing the appropriation 
for transportation is the fact that at the present time the greater 
number of enlistments occur at interior points in the country, and 
the transportation of recruits to the seaboard has added greatly to 
the expenditures under this appropriation. 


8 


Also all these estimates are based on the strength of 40,000 men. 

The Chairman. Can we safely reduce that recommendation, 
$450,000? 

Admiral Converse. Not if you give us 40,000 men. 

The Chairman. If we should reduce the number of men, of course 
we could reduce the amount of this appropriation, then, could we ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; but only a small amount. Certain of 
these increases- 

Mr. Loudenslager. To get the maximum of your 40,000 you will 
have to double the enlistment which you had this year? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Which is not probable, is it? 

Admiral Converse. It depends on the condition of the crops they 
have out west and the demand for labor, and also on the repeal of 
the law requiring a birth certificate before enlistment. 

Mr. Loudenslager. You think it is possible? 

Admiral Converse. I think it is possible; yes, sir. We are en¬ 
deavoring to offer additional inducements to men to enter and remain 
in the Navy. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

Recruiting: Expenses of recruiting for the naval service; rent of rendezvous 
and expenses of maintaining the same; advertising for and obtaining men and 
apprentice seamen; actual and necessary expenses in lieu of mileage to officers 
on duty with traveling recruiting parties, one hundred and twenty-one thousand 
three hundred and forty dollars. 

You are asking for the same as last year? 

Admiral Converse. The same as last year. 

The Chairman. I want to ask you about that proviso that was 
inserted by the House— 

That no part of this appropriation shall be expended in recruiting seamen, 
ordinary seamen, or apprentice seamen unless a certificate of birth or written 
evidence, other than his own statement, satisfactory to the recruiting officer, 
showing the applicant to be of age required by naval regulations shall be pre¬ 
sented with the application for enlistment. 

How has that worked since it was passed? 

Admiral Converse. The estimate, as near as we could calculate it, 
for the first month after it went into effect was a loss of somewhere 
near 30 per cent. Since then we have been keeping a regular list 
of those who failed to present evidence of age and were rejected. 
For the months of July and August at the station at Boston and the 
various substations there were 1,752 candidates presented themselves, 
and of that number 200 passed. There were 966 who failed to pre¬ 
sent evidence of age and were rejected at Boston and substations 
during the months of July and August. 

In September there were 340 who failed to produce such evidence, 
in October there were 353, and in November 240. That is the way it 
works at every station that we have. We are keeping the record ac¬ 
curately to see how many are unable to produce this evidence. This 
deterrent to enlistment has, however, been somewhat mitigated by 
the decision of the Secretary of the Navy, based upon the opinion of 
the Judge-Advocate-General as issued in a circular letter which closed 
as follows: 

In this view of the matter the attention of recruiting officers should be called 
to the fact that the purpose of the provision is distinctly to prevent enlistments 



9 


under age; that such written evidence must in every case be required as will 
show to the satisfaction of the recruiting officer that the applicant is of law¬ 
ful age, but that in cases where it is obvious to the recruiting officer that the 
applicant is of lawful age, and where the examining medical officer so certifies 
in writing, the applicant may be enlisted. The Department considers that such 
official statement, over the signature of the examining medical officer, should be 
accepted as meeting the requirements of the act where, for any reason, as is fre¬ 
quently the case, certificate of birth can not be produced. 

It is noted that the act expressly provides that the evidence contemplated 
is to be written; is to be in addition to the statement of the applicant, and is 
to be satisfactory to the recruiting officer. The last clause of this provision 
vests a degree of discretion in the recruiting officer in dealing with this matter, 
and it was doubtless the purpose of the Congress to effect, through a wise ex¬ 
ercise of such discretion, the object of the clause without causing unreasonable 
embarrassment to the service. 

Most recruiting officers, however, are very apt to err on the safe 
side, and are unwilling to accept any man unless they can get very 
good testimony in regard to his age. 

The Chairman. Then you do not recommend that provision this 
year ? 

Admiral Converse. I recommend that that provision in regard to 
certificates of birth be stricken out. You will find a statement in re¬ 
gard to it in my report, on page 29. 

The Chairman. How is it in this regard in the Army? 

Admiral Converse. They enlist men between the ages of 18 and 35 
years on first enlistment. 

The Chairman. Have they any provision of this kind? 

Admiral Converse. I do not know. 

The Chairman. Will you kindly look it up and see whether they 
have any such provisions? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir; if you wish. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Contingent: Advertising, tele¬ 
graphing on public business,*' and so forth. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Have we gotten through with this recruiting? 
I thought you were going to ask a question or two in regard to that, 
and I would like to ask one or two. 

The Chairman. Very well. 

Mr. Loudenslager. I would like to ask a question or two of the 
Admiral, fie spoke some time ago about the influence that operated 
against the enlistment of men in the service, and said that he thought 
that the increase in the enlistments for the coming year would be 
considerable. I)o you think that this influence against enlistments 
will be eliminated ? 

Admiral Converse. We may not continue to have, possibly, as 
favorable crops as we have had the last two or three years, or the 
demand for people to enter the railroad service may not be as great; 
the railroads must be getting very nearly all the men they require 
now. Just at present it is hard to get men for anything, even at the 
navy-yards. In one of the Omaha papers, for instance, there ap¬ 
peared not long ago right alongside of our advertisement which of¬ 
fered from $20 to $70 a month for men, five or six others offering 
from $70 upward for men on railroads, and calling attention to the 
fact, as a further inducement, that men starting in as brakemen and 
firemen could work up to conductors and other higher positions. I do 
not suppose that that can continue forever. 


10 


Mr. Loudenslager. Is it not said in a general report of the indus¬ 
trial system of the country that most of these establishments have 
already all that they can use ? 

Admiral Converse. Industrial establishments? 

Mr. Loudenslager. Yes. 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Does not the report say that they are com¬ 
pletely congested ? 

Admiral Converse. I have not gone into that sufficiently to say. 

Mr. Loudenslager. You can not get Congress to handle that. 

Admiral Converse. I am speaking of our men and the influences 
that cause men to desert. Men sometimes go home. We give them 
ten days’ leave and travel time, and they are offered $2.50 a day to 
help harvest the grain; but that only lasts four or five weeks—what¬ 
ever it may be—and by that time they are deserters. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Are there any additional efforts to be put forth 
by you in this matter ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; w T e propose to increase the number of 
recruiting stations throughout the country as fast as officers are avail¬ 
able for the purpose. That is what we are doing now. We have a 
small vessel, a tender to the training station at Newport, which is 
used in summer for training apprentices. We shall not need it there 
this winter, and we have started her down the coast to go up the Mis¬ 
sissippi River. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Are there any other ways ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; by increasing the number of stations, and, 
as I said before, the inducements to enter and remain in the service. 

Mr. Loudenslager. That is all ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Does that increase the expense at all ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, slightly, with every station. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Where does that increased pay come from? 
What appropriation do you pay that from ? 

Admiral Converse. From this appropriation. 

Mr. Loudenslager. You have not asked for any increase here. 

Admiral Converse. Because we did not expend all that we had last 
year. We could not get officers to put in the field. 

Mr. Loudenslager. How much balance have you on that? 

Admiral Converse. The balance is $7,008. 

The Chairman. You say you enlisted how many men last year? 

Admiral Converse. Thirteen thousand four hundred and eighteen, 
all told. 

Mr. Loudenslager. It would net about 5,000 men, would it not? 

Admiral Converse. It would net about 5,000 above the number of 
discharges, desertions, and deaths. Thirteen thousand four hundred 
and eighteen men were enlisted last year. 

The Chairman. But from the present quota you are to-dav short 
about 3,500 ? 

Admiral Converse. Four thousand five hundred, somewhere about 
that. The figures change every week. 

The Chairman. If your enlistments are not any more this year 
than last year, how much short of the quota will you be ? 

Admiral Converse. Probably from 2,000 to 3,000. 

The Chairman. Short of the quota ? 


11 


Admiral Converse. Of the authorized quota. 

The Chairman. Of the 37,000? 

Admiral Converse. Of the 37,000, all told. 

Mr. Kitchin. And if it was a certainty that there would be 3,000 
short, this appropriation need not be increased? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir; not if it were certain. But it is 
always desirable to catch fish when you can; I mean by that if the 
conditions to recruit are favorable it is desirable to do so. 

The Chairman. What do you figure out these men cost? 

Admiral Converse. Thirty dollars a month. 

The Chairman. Three hundred and sixty dollars a year? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; $360 a year. 

The Chairman. Here are some new words in the bill: “ Purchase 
of gymnastic apparatus.” What is the necessity for that? Where 
do you use it? 

Admiral Converse. When a large number of enlisted men are in 
the neighborhood of a navy-yard, due to a visit of a number of naval 
vessels or to the fact that they are attending classes under instruction, 
the Bureau believes that it would greatly add to their recreation and 
contentment if it could purchase simple gymnastic apparatus, such 
as parallel bars, flying rings, pulley weights, and the like. 

We are developing athletics among the men in the Navy now, and 
find it necessary to do so, as we no longer have masts and sails, when 
the men used to get plenty of exercise by running aloft and working. 
Therefore, to take the place of that we encourage athletics of every 
kind and put the men through a regular physical drill twice a day on 
ship and on shore and encourage them in playing ball, or in anything 
else that makes for the development of muscle or the training of the 
body. We have a school for the instruction of firemen that has just 
been started at Norfolk. We have sent men there after being reen¬ 
listed as firemen of the first class who desired to be instructed as 
machinists, machinists’ mates, and oilers. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

Gunnery exercises: Prizes, trophies, and badges for excellence in gunnery 
exercises and target practice; for the establishment and maintenance of shoot¬ 
ing galleries, target houses, targets, and ranges; for hiring established ranges, 
and for transportation of civilian assistants to and from ranges. 

Heretofore that has been “ men and equipment.” What is the 
necessity for that ? 

Admiral Converse (reading) : 

The words “ civilian assistants ” have been substituted for the word “ men ” 
as more clearly defining the scope of that portion of the appropriation. It is 
occasionally necessary to transport markers and workmen to and from ranges, 
and provision was accordingly made under the appropriation authorizing such 
a proceeding. The word “ men ” is subject to construction as meaning enlisted 
men of the Navy when it is intended to apply only to civilians. 

Mr. Kitchin. That would strike out the “ equipment ” altogether, 
would it not, Admiral ? You would substitute “ civilian assistants ” 
for “ men and equipment.” 

Admiral Converse. It should be “ civilian assistants and equip¬ 
ment.” 

The Chairman. The next reads: 

For expenses incidental to entering and training navy team and competing in 
rifle matches: for stationery and printing in connection with gunnery training, 
one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. 


12 


Admiral Converse. I have no recollection of striking out the words 
“ and equipment.” 

Mr. Kitchin. So that you desire the words “ civilian assistants and 
equipment? ” 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir; I want it to read “ civilian assistants 
and equipment to and from ranges.” 

Mr. Loudenslager. You do not want transportation for the men, 
then ? 

Admiral Converse. No. 

The Chairman. The estimate as sent here to Congress shows that 
the word “ equipment ” was stricken out. 

Admiral Converse. I happened to be on other duty, and did not 
see the revised estimate. It should read, “ For transportation of 
civilian assistants and equipment to and from ranges.” That is what 
we intended. 

The Chairman. What have you to say about what follows: 

For expenses incidental to entering and training navy team and competing 
in rifle matches. 

Admiral Converse (reading) : 

That is added for the reason that there are certain expenses incident to 
entering navy teams in rifle competition which are necessary and which 
should clearly come out of the appropriation for gunnery exercises. These 
expenses are not large, but they must be incurred if the practice of entering 
teams in rifle competition is to be continued, and it is therefore advisable to 
embody provision for them in the wording of the appropriation bill. In view 
of the keen competition in these matches and the fact that the most expert 
marksmen in the United States must be met, the navy team is assembled 
about two months before the match and must be kept under training and prac¬ 
tice daily until it comes off. This involves the purchase of tents, tent equipage, 
score books, and other articles. 

Mr. Kitchin. From what fund have these expenses heretofore 
been paid? 

Admiral Converse. They have been paid out of appropriation 
for “ Gunnery exercises.” 

Mr. Kitchin. Which is the same fund under discussion now ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. Has there been any question with the Comptroller 
about the payment of these things? 

Admiral Converse. I do not think so. 

Mr. Callahan. This was recommended last year. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ For stationery and printing in con¬ 
nection with gunnery training.” 

Have you not a fund in your Bureau out of which you pay for all 
printing ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; the Department has a printing fund. 

The Chairman. Why could not the printing be done under that ? 

Admiral Converse. It could be done under that. 

The Chairman. There is a disposition in the House to have one 
fund for printing and not to have it divided up. 

Admiral Converse (reading) : 

Under the phrase “for stationery and binding” it is proposed to pay for 
the large quantity of mimeograph supplies used, and also pay for such printing 
relating to gunnery exercises as may be found necessary, thus relieving the 
printing fund of the Department from, an expense which should properly be 
defrayed from the appropriation for gunnery exercises. 


13 


It is largely confidential matter that we have printed in relation 
to target practice and gunnery exercises. One point raised was that 
in case of urgency the printing could be gotten out rapidly by private 
firms if the Government Printing Office was rushed with work 
during the busy season. All reports in regard to matters as to 
gunnery practice on board ships are confidential communications, 
and should be prepared and sent out promptly. 

Mr. Loudenslager. There are no cases, however, where such con¬ 
fidential matter in other cases leaks at the printing office? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir. 

Mr. Loudenslager. To any great degree. 

Admiral Converse. Not at all. We found that one confidential 
document went to the wrong division of the Navy Department, was 
opened, and had circulated around the Department for some time 
before it came to the right place. 

Mr. Loudenslager. That was all in the family, though ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; it was all in the family, but confidential 
matters should go direct to the proper place. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Outfits on first enlistment: Outfits 
for all enlisted men and apprentice seamen of the Navy on first 
enlistment, at sixty dollars each,” instead of $45 each. 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. And there is a change from $567,000 to $720,000. 
Why do you ask for an increase there ? 

Admiral Converse. The cost of everything for the Navy has 
jumped up very much from 1897, when it was fixed, to the present 
time. Overshirts were then issued at $2.40 apiece. They now cost 
$2.75. Undress jumpers were then $1.36. They are now $2.10. 
Blue trousers were then $2.65. They are now $4.25. Dress trousers, 
white, were then $1.02. They are now $1.05. A jersey which then 
cost $1.38 now costs $1.50. An overcoat has advanced in price from 
$8.17 to $10.25. So the total cost of the outfit now, including rubber 
boots, and so forth, is about $66.95. 

The Chairman. What was it before? 

Admiral Converse. Forty-eight dollars and eighty-seven cents. 

The Chairman. Now, do you need all of this money, this $720,000? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Take that appropriation of $567,000 of last year; 
did you use all of that, or will you use it all? Will there be an 
unexpended balance? 

Admiral Converse. I believe there will be a balance of about 
$10,000 or $15,000. The returns are not all in yet. We can not get 
them all in for some time. 

Mr. Kitchin. How do you get these things? 

Admiral Converse. From the naval paymaster. The clothing is 
manufactured at the factory in the New York Navy-Yard. 

Mr. Kitchin. The Navy buys the material and makes the cloth¬ 
ing ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir; and the Paymaster-General of the 
Nav}' informed us verbally the other day that the increased cost of 
the outfit was due particularly to the increased cost of cotton and 
wool, and the cloth used in manufacturing, and not to the cost of 
manufacture. 

Mr. Kitchin. Do they buy the raw material by competitive bids? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; by competitive bids, and then have it 


14 


most severely tested. The great trouble in the Navy is to get colors 
that are fast. The action of salt water is very apparent on any goods 
that are not of the very best quality. 

The Chairman. If we should not allow the 3,000 men this year 
could we not cut this down ? 

Admiral Converse. You could cut off correspondingly on this. 

The Chairman. How much can we cut off from this in that case? 

Admiral Converse. You can cut off about $180,000. 

The Chairman. It would be about $60 for each man? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir; that is what I would estimate it. 

The Chairman. That is $60,000 for a thousand men? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Would that be exactly correct? This is on 
first enlistment, is it not? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. It depends on how many reenlist, does it not? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. No; I mean on how many enlist? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; on how many enlist. 

Mr. Loudenslager. You might have 10,000 desertions and 20,000 
enlistments. 

Admiral Converse. It depends on how T many we enlist. 

Mr. Loudenslager. It does not depend on the force we authorize 
you to have, at all, does it ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, in a measure. The amount of money 
that will be required for outfits is based on expenditures for this 
purpose during previous years. The amount increases in proportion 
to the increased enlisted strength of the Navy. 

Mr. Kitchin. This is based on 12,000 enlistments? 

Admiral Converse. On 12,000 new enlistments. 

Mr. Loudenslager. You had 3,000 reenlistments this year? 

Admiral Converse. Two thousand two hundred and eighteen. 

The Chairman. The next is u Maintenance of naval auxiliaries,” 
instead of “ colliers.” 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. Why do you make that change from “ colliers ” to 
“ auxiliaries ? ” 

Admiral Converse. We wish to include with the colliers several 
vessels like the Celtic and the Glacier , provision vessels, ammunition 
ships, and a water ship. 

Mr. Loudenslager. How many auxiliaries have you, altogether, of 
all kinds? 

Admiral Converse. We have 18, exclusive of the Celtic and Glacier , 
or 20 counting those two. 

Mr. Loudenslager. How many of those are officered by civilians? 

Admiral Converse. Eighteen.* Of these, 4 are now out of com¬ 
mission. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Eighteen officered by civilians? 

Admiral, Converse. Yes; with merchant captains, appointed to 
take command until discharged. 

Mr. Loudenslager. The other two vessels are officered by men of 
the Navy? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 





15 

Mr. Loudenslager. Are the other 2 about the same tonnage as 
the 18? 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

Mr. Loudenslager. What is the difference in cost to the Govern¬ 
ment for running those vessels, between those officered by the naval 
officers and those in which there are civil employees? 

Admiral Converse. That 1 can not get at right here. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Will you kindly put that information in your 
hearing? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. We will give you the cost of running 
the auxiliaries manned by civilians with data we have here now. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Yes; but I want the pay of the officers who 
are on those vessels and all, so as to know the total difference of the 
cost of running those vessels as between the vessels run by civil em¬ 
ployees and those run by men of the Navy. The civil officers in those 
auxiliaries have performed their duties well? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; very well, with one or two exceptions; 
and there is another advantage in having civilian officers and crews— 
when the vessel is laid up we discharge them. 

Mr. Loudenslager. And another thing, it would give you more 
officers for your battle ships? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; by taking away the officers and crews 
who are now manning two of the auxiliaries. There is another point, 
when it got toward the end of the last fiscal year we put a number of 
the colliers out of commission immediately. That was done on ac¬ 
count of the restriction which Congress passed forbidding deficien¬ 
cies being created. We telegraphed to China to put three of the 
vessels out of commission, and we also telegraphed to Admiral Evans 
to put two of his vessels out of service on a certain date. He needed 
their services very much, but we told him he could have the colliers 
again after the 1st of July. We also laid up a water vessel, the 
Areth/usa. We put those vessels out of commission and discharged 
their officers and crews and reduced expenses in every possible way 
we could, with the result that we show a little balance. We erred on 
the safe side. We had to do it. But I think perhaps the service 
suffered a little. 

The Chairman. These vessels that you want to include in this 
item are in number three or four, are they not? 

Admiral Converse. About four or five. 

The Chairman. What sort of vessels? What do you use them 
for? 

Admiral Converse. Provision ships. 

The Chairman. Entirely? 

Admiral Converse. And water ships and an ammunition ship. 
For example, we have now in the harbor of Habana one of our two 
supply vessels, the Celtic. 

The Chairman. Does that make the increase in this appropria¬ 
tion necessary—the inclusion of those vessels? 

Admiral Converse. It would make it necessary; yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Do you reduce any other appropriation by taking 
these vessels out? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir; we get more men, however, for the 
battle ships. We would transfer the crew of the Celtic and the 


16 


crew of the Glacier and the crews of the ammunition vessels to the 
battle ships. 

The Chairman. The next provision here is “ Naval training sta¬ 
tion, California.” You are asking for an increase of $1,000? 

Admiral Converse. The amount asked for under maintenance is 
the same that was asked for and appropriated for the present fiscal 
year, excepting an increase of $1,000 for “ lectures and suitable en¬ 
tertainments for apprentice seamen,” as has been appropriated for 
the training station at Newport for the last three years. 

The Chairman. You ask for $51,000. 

Admiral Converse. Yes. That has been provided for a number 
of years, and we think it is very desirable to do it in San Francisco. 

The Chairman. Last year you had it, did you ? 

Admiral Converse. For Newport. 

The Chairman. Now you want it for San Francisco? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; for San Francisco. 

Mr. Kitchin. Was there any balance in this item last year—in this 
$50,000? 

Admiral Converse. On the training station? 

Mr. Kitchin. For California. 

Admiral Converse. Practically none. The stations always use up 
their allotment within a few dollars. The books now show a balance 
of $1,426.48. We do not know whether there are any further charges 
against that appropriation that have not been recorded. There 
probably will be more. There are nearly always some little charges 
which come in after the end of the fiscal year. 

The Chairman. At Newport you are asking an increase of $10,000. 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. Why is that necessar}' ? 

Admiral Converse. Because of the increase of the number of men 
at the station, the new buildings which are now in the process of 
erection and which will require extra supervision and care, and in¬ 
creases in the amount of coal and water required. Water is a very 
costly article at Newport. 

The Chairman. You have more men there now, have you? 

Admiral Converse. We have not at the present time, but at one 
time I think we had 1,600 or 1,800 men there. At the present time 
we have been transferring them to ships going out to sea. 

Mr. Kitchin. Was there any unexpended balance at this station? 

Admiral Converse. At Newport ? 

Mr. Kitchin. Yes. 

Admiral Converse. The balance was $1,820.02, reported on hand 
in the Treasury Department at the end of the fiscal year. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ Naval training station, Great 
Lakes.” You are asking an increase of $10,000. Why is that neces¬ 
sary? 

Admiral Converse. This increase of $10,000 in the appropriation 
for maintenance is chiefly necessary to enable the commandant of the 
station to take the necessary measures to protect the lake front 
which is being washed away. This will require filling and grading 
and the employment of additional labor. 

The Chairman. What is this new language, “ pay of men on 
leave ? ” 


17 


Admiral Converse. It has been inserted in the estimates to provide 
for the payment of salaries of men who are absent from the station 
on leave. Per diem employees have fifteen days a year. 

The Chairman. Do you put that in at any"other place? You do 
not at the Rhode Island station, do you? 

Mr. Callahan. The Naval Academy this year has put in the same 
provision in its estimates. 

The Chairman. But you do not do it in the naval training station 
at Rhode Island or in California. Why should you not do it at all 
the stations? I do not know but it ought to be in at all places, navy- 
yards and stations. \\ hy should you do it in one place and not in 
another? 

Mr. Callahan. At Newport and the other places there is not so 
much construction work going on, and much of what has been done 
has been carried on by outside contractors whose men are not entitled 
to these leave privileges. 

Mr. Kitciiin. It looks like that new language in the section above 
would include that ravine and grading work, “ repairs and improve¬ 
ments to grounds, buildings, and piers.” Has there been no grading 
done there yet? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; they are at work there all the time. There 
was a contract let for grading a short time ago. 

The Chairman. Would not that language above accomplish all 
that you want, “ repairs and improvements to grounds, buildings, and 
piers? ” I should think it would. Has there been any difficulty in 
the Comptroller’s office? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir. 

Mr. Ivitchin. What is the matter with the lake front there; is it 
washed away ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir; it is washing away. 

The Chairman. The next is: 

Naval training station. Port Royal, S. C.: Maintenance of naval training 
station, Port Royal, S. C., namely: Manual labor and material; general care, 
repairs, and improvements of grounds, buildings, and wharves; wagons, carts, 
implements, and tools, and repairs to same; gymnastic implements; models and 
other articles needed in instruction of apprentice seamen; stationery, books, 
periodicals, and other contingent expenses. 

Admiral Converse. We had an epidemic, quite an outbreak of 
meningitis, at the naval training station at Newport. We had perhaps 
nine or ten deaths. I speak from memory in regard to the numbers, 
but I think I am not overstating it. The result was that we had to 
stop sending recruits to Newport, and we sent them all to Norfolk, 
having there at one time in the receiving ships and on shore and in 
tents over 3,000 men. Conditions were so congested that it became 
almost necessary to stop recruiting entirely at the very season when 
we were getting the most recruits. The naval station at Port Royal 
is practically closed. Some very good buildings have been put up 
there, one for steam engineering, one for supplies and accounts, a 
storehouse, and yards and docks, I think, have one; and there is also 
a fairly good dock there. We are making arrangements so that in 
case of an epidemic of sickness of any kind either at Newport or at 
the St. Helena training station we can send one of our transports of 
the Dixie type down there, establish headquarters, tie the vessel up 
at the dock, and use the buildings for quarters for the men. The 
n p—07-2 


18 


reason for going there is that we have nearly everything that is re¬ 
quired for the men, and the climate is so much better in the winter 
that we can keep them outdoors almost all the time. 

The Chairman. Do you propose to establish a permanent naval 
station down there? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir; only to keep it in reserve. 

The Chairman. You remember this question of Port Royal, per¬ 
haps before your time, was before Congress here, and we had a 
navy-yard down there, a small one, and Congress decided to close 
up Port Royal. 

Admiral Converse. Yes; it is practically closed now, we have care 
takers there. 

The Chairman. We have been trying to close it for a number of 
years under that understanding that it be closed, and we were to go 
to Charleston and build a navy-yard there. 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. But about every year there is some cropping out 
of Port Royal. 

Admiral Converse. The yard, all of the machinery, everything in 
connection therewith, has been moved from Port Royal to Charleston. 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Admiral Converse. There is nothing now but this large tract of 
land, and nice buildings which are unoccupied, and all we wish to do 
is to occupy them. The Secretary of the Navy has turned it over 
to the Bureau of Navigation as a reserve for emergency camps for 
stop-overs from Newport to Norfolk. I can not imagine that it 
will ever become a permanent station on account of what you might 
call its isolation, the difficulty of getting there. When we had an 
epidemic of diphtheria on one of our large training ships we sent her 
to Port Royal, and she stayed there two months, putting the men 
under canvas or in tents, and fumigating and ventilating and disin¬ 
fecting the ship. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Naval depot, Saint Helena, Vir¬ 
ginia.” 

Admiral Converse. This money would be used principally for 
providing cooking arrangements and sleeping arrangements, urinals, 
and things of that kind. It was not the intention to make it into 
a station, except as an emergency or adjunct station to the others. 

The Chairman. What is this depot of St. Helena, $25,000? Is 
that a new proposition entirely? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir; St. Helena is a part of the navy-yard 
at Norfolk. 

Mr. Kitciitn. That is an island down in the river? 

Admiral Converse. No; it is the mainland, directly across the 
river. There are the barracks used ordinarily at St. Helena [pre¬ 
senting photographs to the committee]. That shows the temporary 
nature of these improvements. The men are at present quartered in 
tents. Those are apprentice seamen that you see in that picture and 
petty officers. There is not a man there who has been in the service 
over four months. There is not a commissioned officer there. They 
are a pretty good set of men, I think. 

A part of this $25,000 is required in this way. A requisition was 
made on Saturday for boards to make floors for the tents, for $300 


19 


for stoves to put in the tents, and for stovepipe, and we have no 
contingent fund on which to rely for little things of that kind. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is it the final purpose to let these men stay in tents 
all the year? 

Admiral Converse. No; it is the intention to take them away as 
fast as the ships are ready to receive them. 

Mr. Kitchin. I mean those who stay there; do they stay in tents? 

Admiral Converse. No; it is the intention to transfer them on 
board ships as soon as the ships are ready, and as soon as some neces¬ 
sary repairs are made to the temporary barracks the remainder will 
be quartered there. 

The Chairman. Last year we made an appropriation of $25,000 
for repairs of buildings at St. Helena. 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. We have not completed those repairs 
now. They included changing the latrines, changing the cooking 
apparatus, and putting new roofing on the buildings which existed 
there, making them habitable. They are not habitable to-day, and 
will not be for two months. 

The Chairman. This new provision means substantially a training 
station, does it not? 

Admiral Converse. That is what it has been used for for twenty 
years. 

The Chairman. They call it a naval depot. 

Admiral Converse. That is the Secretary’s name for it and not 
mine. It has been in use for a number of years, and last winter, in 
January and February, we had 3,600 men there, somewhere in the 
neighborhood of 2,000 of whom were under canvas. At that time 
we were assembling crews for two battle ships, and the rest of them 
were apprentice seamen. 

The Chairman. For what purpose is this $25,000? 

Admiral Converse. General repairs to buildings. This sum is 
asked for to assist in maintaining a station where more enlisted men 
assemble in a given time than at any other station. 

At the present time when anything is needed for the health and 
comfort of the recruits in training at St. Helena a requisition is made 
upon the different bureaus, and often not approved; occasionally 
requisition is made upon the Secretary of the Navy for an allotment 
from the contingent fund, which likewise is often disapproved. 

Last year the Secretary gave us $4,000 to pay for tents which the 
Army transferred to us for this very use. 

With the sum asked for it is intended to pay for the care and re¬ 
pairs of grounds and buildings on St. Helena, gymnastic implements 
and articles needed in instruction of apprentice seamen, books, period¬ 
icals, and other necessary contingent expenses that may arise. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Naval War College, Rhode Island.” 
There is a change of language on page 21, where you have, instead of 
“ purchase of books for reference,” “ for care and preservation of 
librarv, including the purchase, binding, and repair of books of refer¬ 
ence, and periodicals, $1,500.” What is the matter with the way we 
had it before? What is the necessity for the change? 

Admiral Converse. The present appropriation for purchase of 
books of reference is $400, and an increase of $1,100 over the amount 
now allowed is asked for. 


20 


The phraseology is changed for the reason that it is believed that 
the above, which follows closely the phraseology of the appropriation 
for the library of the Naval Academy for the year 1907, better ex¬ 
presses the purposes to which the appropriation should be applied. 
The words u repair ” and “ binding ” are inserted for the reason that 
it is believed in many instances the binding of periodicals and re¬ 
binding of books can be as well done by “ open contract ” with local 
binders as b}^ the Public Printer, and with considerable saving t6 the 
Government aside from the freight to and from Washington. The 
former appropriation, $400, which has been unchanged for a number 
of years, has proved to be entirely inadequate to meet the needs of 
the library, even with the closest kind of restriction on the character 
of the books purchased, with the result that the library is now far 
behind the needs of the college. In fact the $400 hitherto appro¬ 
priated annually is hardly sufficient to keep the library up to date in 
works on international law alone. When the limited circulation and 
consequent high price of the class of books required for the War 
College library is considered, it is believed that the amount named 
in this year’s estimate is below rather than above the mark. 

The Chairman. What about this librarian at $1,600 instead of 
$1,400 per year ? How long has he been there ? 

Admiral Converse. The recommended increase of $200 in the com¬ 
pensation of the librarian is believed to be just and equitable. The 
present librarian has been employed at the college for about one year, 
and his work so far has been such as to merit the extra compensation. 
He must serve another year before the increase, if allowed, would go 
into effect, and as the salaries of trained librarians run, $1,400 is not 
a large salary for an assistant librarian, and certainly not for a 
librarian in charge. In view of the above, and the increased value 
to the college of the librarian by reason of his two years’ experience, 
the advance recommended does not seem unreasonable, particularly 
if the high cost of living in that vicinity be taken into consideration. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

Salaries, Naval War College, supplemental: One clerk of class two (in lieu 
of one clerk of class one, now paid out of appropriations “ Pay, miscellaneous ”), 
fourteen hundred dollars. 

What about that? 

Admiral Converse. In a recent letter to the Bureau the presi¬ 
dent of the Naval War College points out the utter inadequacy of 
the clerical force now employed at the college and an estimate" for 
two additional copyists has been submitted. With the close of the 
present conference the clerical force will be reduced to one clerk 
whose time is now and will be fully occupied with the current work 
of the president’s office, and much of the work of the college will come 
to a standstill for the want of copyists. The number of officers at¬ 
tached to the college staff is not large enough to allow their diversion 
to this work, even if it were desirable to so employ them. 

The president of the college views with apprehension the condition 
which confronts him, and earnestly urges a favorable consideration 
of the request contained in his letter above cited. 

With a view to having the present clerk, now paid out of appro¬ 
priation “ Pay, miscellaneous,” transferred to the civil establishment 
an estimate is submitted for one clerk at $1,400 per annum, to be paid 


from the appropriation for the support of the War College in lieu 
of one clerk at $1,200 per annum, paid out of “ Pay, miscellaneous.” 
The additional salary is strongly recommended by the president of 
the War College, as all of the work of the War College falls on this 
employee; that is, attending to correspondence, preparing requisi¬ 
tions, keeping accounts, and so forth, which duties often require 
his working overtime. 

Mr. Kitchin. I notice there are also provided for two copyists at 
$900 per annum. 

Admiral Converse. They are necessary in view of the increase in 
the clerical work at the coliege. 

The Chairman. The next is “Naval Home, Philadelphia, Penn¬ 
sylvania.'' That is a decrease of the total appropriation, but it is 
paid out of the pension fund, is it? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; out of the naval pension fund of $14,- 

000 , 000 . 

The Chairman. On page 23, for repairs to buildings, boilers, fur¬ 
naces, and furniture, we have $6,748. Last year you had $8,000. 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. For “Support of beneficiaries” you ask less. 
What makes it less? That is about $3,000 less. 

Admiral Converse. That estimate is based on the number of bene* 
ficiaries at the Home. 

The Chairman. That is paid out of the pension fund? 

Admiral Converse. Out of interest on the pension fund of $14,000,- 
000. That fund has been in existence for a long time. 

Mr. Kitchin. The men contribute to this fund, do they not? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir. The sum of 20 cents per month is de¬ 
ducted from the pay of each officer, seaman, and marine in the Navy 
for maintenance of naval hospitals. This does not apply to bene¬ 
ficiaries at the Naval Home. The Naval Home was founded out of 
what we know as the naval pension fund. Forty years ago, when I 
first entered the service, they used to read, when they read the 
Articles of War, that all prize money paid should go to and remain 
forever for the support of people who had become disabled in the 
service. Afterwards, under the administration of Mr. Robeson or 
Mr. Chandler, this money was turned in, and we were only entitled 
to the interest on it. The fund amounted to about $14,000,000. 

The Chairman. I see here a provision for laborers and cooks, and 
so forth. You have separated it. There are a number of increases 
here. 

Admiral Converse. There is an increase in the pay of the stewards, 
the cooks, and two assistant cooks. 

The Chairman. Are there any increases in the number of em¬ 
ployees ; any new employees asked for ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; a master mechanic at $3.28 per day and 
a store laborer at $480 per annum are asked for, in view of the in¬ 
creased labor at the Home. 

The Chairman. Every year there is some increase in here. What 
is the present necessity for this ? Are you not getting along all right 
as you are now ? 

Admiral Converse. The master mechanic is required for the pur¬ 
pose of keeping up minor repairs to the buildings and the adjustment 


22 


of things that would naturally fall to pieces. He repairs furniture 
and performs other duties of that character. As for the increase in 
the pay of the cooks, and all the other, I take it to be simply that the 
wages of the people throughout the country in those occupations have 
been increasing. 

The Chairman. What is this provision for pay of beneficiaries 
for extra duties performed by them at the Home ? 

Admiral Converse. The regulations of the Naval Home provide 
that in consideration of the faithful performance of such duties 
in and about the Home as may be directed by the governor or com¬ 
manding officer, each beneficiary shall receive $2 per month. This 
was afterwards increased to $3, and was paid up to March 1, 1906. 
Upon the question of the establishment of the rate of writer at the 
Home at a compensation of $10 per month, the Comptroller of the 
Treasury rendered a decision, under date of March 22, 1906, to the 
effect that as the appropriation for the support of the Home pro¬ 
vides specifically for 49 employees, other personal services than 
those authorized by the act are prohibited by section 3679 of the 
Revised Statutes. This was considered to also cover the cases of 
beneficiaries who had been receiving a compensation of $3 per month 
for extra services performed, and consequently payment of this 
sum was stopped. To reimburse these beneficiaries for extra services 
rendered at the Home from March 1, 1906, to June 30, 1906, and 
also to pay certain workmen for services rendered to the Home 
during the second half of March, 1906, the present estimate is 
submitted. 

The Chairman. Can you not pay these men here? Here, for 
instance, are a mechanic at $4 per day, a carpenter at $2.80 a day, 
a plasterer at $2.80 a day, and so on. 

Admiral Converse. We could pay them up to the time that the 
Comptroller decided that they could not be paid out of the appro¬ 
priation for the support of the Home. This caused so much suffer¬ 
ing that some people contributed to give these poor old fellows the 
money that they had been receiving before. 

The Chairman. We want you to state just the particular reason 
why it is necessary, and whether it is likely to occur again. Your 
total appropriation for the Home is about the same as last year ? 

Admiral Converse. There is an increase of $909. 

The Chairman. That practically covers your Bureau, does it not, 
Admiral ? 

Admiral Converse. I think it does, sir. 

The Chairman. Over further, under public works, is all that is 
left, “ Public works under Bureau of Navigation.” You are asking 
for something there at the naval training station, California. 

Admiral Converse. Yes. 

The Chairman. It reads: 

Repairs to water service and an additional main: For extra service pipe to 
Oakland shore, and so forth, fifteen thousand dollars; to complete and repair 
roads, three thousand dollars. Painting of barracks, officers’ quarters, three 
thousand dollars; dispensary building, thirty thousand dollars; in all, fifty-one 
thousand dollars. 

Admiral Converse. On account of the dependence of the station 
for its water supply upon a single line of 3-inch pipe connecting with 
the Southern Pacific water service at the end of the Oakland Mole, 


23 


it is necessary that an additional line of pipe be installed to the 
island directly from the aqueduct main on shore. 

The Chairman. You have one pipe now ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; the station depends for its water supply 
on connecting with the Southern Pacific water service. All during 
the earthquake period it was considered necessary to keep a tug 
alongside of the training station and to keep the hose, and so forth, 
ready because of the danger of fire. 

For the roads and grounds an estimate of $3,000 is submitted—to 
reclaim land, for filling in, to continue road projected around the 
island, and to finish those already commenced with macadam and the 
necessary repairs. 

The Chairman. How about this “ Painting of barracks, officers’ 
quarters, and buildings? ” 

Admiral Converse. That is considered necessary work, and for 
painting the buildings it is estimated that the cost of labor and ma¬ 
terial will be $3,000. 

The Chairman. The last item is, “ Dispensary building, $30,000.” 
Is not that a pretty expensive building? 

Admiral Converse. The quarters now provided for the care of the 
sick at the naval training station, San Francisco, Cal., are unsatis¬ 
factory as to location and are crude and inadequate in accommoda¬ 
tions for the care and treatment of the sick. 

The daily average number of sick on the station is twenty. This is 
more than doubled at times when the station has its full quota of 
recruits. 

It is recommended that as soon as practicable a proper and sani¬ 
tary structure be erected on the most convenient and suitable site 
available. 

The noxious surroundings of the present sick quarters render aseptic 
surgery at this station impossible, and any other than this is mal¬ 
practice. A safe site is therefore imperative, and must be one beyond 
the dusty regions that immediately environ the barracks. 

The Chairman. How many men have you got there? 

Admiral Converse. We have at times 300 and over. It is my rec¬ 
ollection that we send them over certain lines when recruited, to either 
the Pacific or the Atlantic coast, as the transportation cost may be 
least. My recollection is that the number was between three and 
four hundred the last time, but it varies greatly and is often large. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Naval training station, Rhode Island: 
Buildings.” What have you to say as to that? What is this “re¬ 
building old timber wharf and improving water front, nine thousand 
three hundred dollars? ” 

Admiral Converse. The commandant of the naval training station 
at Newport reports that the present wharf has been in position a great 
many years. It was poorty built in the first place, and now, through 
the rotting away of timbers and the eating away of the piles by the 
teredo, it is in an unsafe condition. Temporary repairs will be at¬ 
tempted, but the wharf can not be put in first-class condition without 
entire rebuilding. It is extremely necessary to the station, as it is 
used by the three station tenders in the summer and winter, and af¬ 
fords a berth for the Constellation in the winter time. 

The Chairman. They are using it right along ? 

Admiral Converse. All the time. 


24 


The Chairman. What is this “ Refrigerating plant, increase, seven 
thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars? ” 

Admiral Converse. The present plant was installed when the sta¬ 
tion was small; even before the station doubled in size the plant was 
inadequate. It is now necessary to purchase at great expense large 
quantities of ice, involving long hauls from the city. The saving in 
cost of ice and certainty of supply and immediate service are an 
ample warrant for the increase in the plant. The present cold-stor¬ 
age rooms, instead of being supplied with ice, should be cooled with 
brine pipes, as only one-half the power required to manufacture ice 
is necessary. Also a large saving in space in the cold-storage boxes 
results, and the labor and expense of handling large quantities of 
ice is eliminated; the mere turning of a valve will supply the cold. 
It is to be noted that ice made for drinking purposes by the station 
plant will be pure, which can not be said of the ice purchased in the 
local market. 

The Chairman. The next is “Artesian and fresh water system (to 
extend), three thousand five hundred dollars.” What about that? 

Admiral Converse. New buildings about to be erected will require 
an extension of the artesian well and fresh-water systems. Many of 
the present fresh-water pipes are badly rusted and should be relaid 
to save waste. 

Mr. Kitchin. Do you know how deep they go there after water? 

Admiral Converse. I do not remember; no. I know that on a 
neighboring island, Goat Island, about three-quarters of a mile from 
there, we never succeeded in getting any good water at all. As a 
rule we use the water from the city supply. It is brought over in 
pipes, and we have to pay an exorbitant price for it. One man has 
had a monopoly of all the water works around that section of New 
England for a long time, and the water comes some distance. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Grading and walks at barracks C, 
six thousand two hundred dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. This building has been occupied about one 
year. No walks have been provided in the vicinity. During wet 
weather the roads are extremely muddy and dirty. Cinders are 
tracked through the building and have helped to ruin the floors. 
It is essential that approaches to this building should be installed 
as promptly as possible. 

The Chairman. The next is “ General storehouse, forty-nine thou¬ 
sand five hundred and forty dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. The present storehouse and pay office is so 
located that the apprentice seamen are required to take a round trip 
of about 1 mile in order to draw stores or pay. 

The Chairman. That is good exercise, is it not? 

Admiral Converse. Except in bad weather. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is the building itself all right? 

Admiral Converse. It is in the wrong place. When this station 
was put up these people were confined to the ships right at the edge 
of the docks; but finally, when they built the barracks, they were 
carried north over the brow of the hill three quarters of a mile. 
Marching these men backward and forward to get their stores and 
their money and to get their clothing when they draw it at the end 
of the month is rather bad on their health, as they have to be kept 
standing outside waiting their turn. Newport is not a good place 


25 


for any outdoor work during a great part of the year. I mean that 
they have high winds there, and the place occupied by the Govern¬ 
ment is exposed. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Dredging channel and basin, ten 
thousand dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. This has been twice requested. The entrance 
channel is narrow and irregular, making it very difficult to maneuver 
the station tenders and other boats. A number of accidents and col¬ 
lisions have occurred. Fortunately these have not been very serious 
so far. Furthermore, there is not now sufficient space for anchoring 
the boats possessed by the station. It is proposed, if the appropria¬ 
tion is granted, to widen the channel and deepen it to about 18 
feet, and to dredge a basin varying from 8 feet to 18 feet in depth 
at the entrance. Ten thousand dollars is not sufficient to do the work 
which is considered necessary, but the request has not been any larger 
in the hope that the appropriation may be more readily granted and 
the essential parts of the work done. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Steam distributing lines, six thou¬ 
sand three hundred dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. The War College buildings and building No. 
11 each have independent heating plants, requiring attendance 
throughout the winter, together with repairs and similar expenses. 
Furthermore, at the War College plant it is necessary to use anthra¬ 
cite coal at a cost of about $5.25 per ton, because of cleanliness. 
These buildings are within reach of the central power house and 
should by all means be heated from there. The extra attendance 
during the winter will be avoided and a saving in the War College 
coal bill of about $2.50 per ton, or about $625 annually, will result. 
The total annual of saving will be well in excess of 10 per cent of the 
amount of the appropriation. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ New receiving and disinfecting 
building, thirty thousand dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. An estimate of $30,000 is submitted. 

The present building is built of wood and is of a temporary char¬ 
acter. It is of very insanitary construction, as has been reported by 
the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. With the doubling in the 
number of the apprentices at the station it is not adequate. Fur¬ 
thermore, the new group of detention buildings is about to be erected 
on a different part of the island and the new building is necessary to 
complete the equipment. Not until this is done can the station be 
said to possess proper facilities for receiving and handling the new 
recruits in a safe and sanitary manner. 

The Chairman. Have they got one now that they use? 

Admiral Converse. Yes; they have one there that they use, but it 
is not near the new detention buildings. One was destroyed by fire. 
The recruits are put in these buildings and thoroughly disinfected. 
Their clothes are disinfected, everything is taken away from them, 
and they are barbered and shaved and given new suits of clothes 
before they are sent anywhere else. I have always believed that the 
meningitis last year was brought in with the recruits from the cities 
from which they came. 

The Chairman. Which do you think is the most important, the 
disinfecting building or that storehouse ? 


26 


Admiral Converse. One is to prevent disease in the outstart, and 
the other is to keep the men free of pneumonia after we have them in 
the service for a while. It is hard to tell which is most important. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Increase of heating and lighting 
plant, five thousand three hundred dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. Additional equipment is needed to put the 
plant on an economical basis. The old boiler feed pumps are badly 
worn. A feed-water heater, with storage capacity for returns from 
heating system, together with hot-water pump, should be installed, in 
order to save the heat in the exhaust steam and hot-water returns, as 
well as the water itself. The roof of the present engine room is too 
low and the ventilation is insufficient. As a result the heat is almost 
unbearable. Minor improvements in addition to those outlined are 
required. This estimate is regarded as one of the most important. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Sanitary, heating, and ventilating 
system in barracks B, nine thousand eight hundred and forty dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. The only satisfactory and safe heating and 
ventilating system from the point of view of health is one whereby 
heated fresh air is continually forced into the sleeping and living 
rooms. With a continuous supply of pure air, warmed as needed, it 
has been proven that sickness is very much reduced. Such systems 
are required by the laws of many of the States for certain classes of 
buildings. The present heating system in barracks B. while an at¬ 
tempt has been made to supply fresh air, is far from satisfactory. 
The fresh air, which is taken in from the openings in the walls, 
passes through galvanized iron boxes. These upon examination have 
been found to be filled with dirt and dust of all descriptions. There 
is no means of cleaning the boxes. The foul air is supposed to be 
removed through galvanized-iron ducts, current being actuated by 
a coil of pipe in the upper part of the stack. 

This system, while an improvement over the method whereby ab¬ 
solutely no provisions are made for air supply, is far from sufficient 
and satisfactory. There is no means of controlling the amount of 
air supply; the action is not positive, and depends very largely upon 
the direction of the wind. Opening of windows and doors interferes 
with the operation. The expenditure of the small sum named is emi¬ 
nently justified, when it is considered that the health, and in some 
cases the lives, of many apprentice seamen are dependent thereon. 
This appropriation is specially urged in the line of improving the 
sanitary conditions at the station. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Repairs and alterations to building 
numbered ten, seven thousand nine hundred dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. This building is used as an administrative 
building and for quarters of the commandant of the station. The 
building is very old. The time of its erection is not known. A great 
many of the timbers in the floors and roof are in very bad condition. 
The heating system is in need of repairs. The electric wiring should 
be overhauled and ceilings reconstructed where the plaster is now 
loose. The entire basement story is in very bad condition and should 
be completely overhauled. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Completion and repairs, three 
double sets of officers’ quarters, four thousand two hundred and 
thirty-two dollars.” 


27 


Admiral Converse. The cellars of these cottages have been verj’ 
damp. In several cases pools of water collect on the floors and the 
dampness and moisture arise through the houses. This condition is 
well known to be prejudicial to health. At various points the houses 
were not completed because the original appropriation was too small. 
The cellars are unfinished and there is at present no door to separate 
the cellars from the upper part of the houses. Minor items to com¬ 
plete the houses are also necessary. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Furnishing assembly, lecture, and 
reading room, and improving basement story, two thousand nine 
hundred and ninety dollars.” 

Admiral Converse. The appropriation for the building was barely 
sufficient to complete the rough walls and floor. A considerable rise 
in the cost of building materials and labor has taken place. The 
sum named is necessar}^ to provide seats, window shades, plumbing, 
and other necessities. The comfortable seating capacity of the lec¬ 
ture hall is 754 persons. This may be increased to about 800. It is 
recommended that a gallery be constructed at the rear of the building, 
to increase the seating capacity by about 250. If this be done, about 
$1,800 should be added to the above estimate. 

The Chairman. This makes in all $168,052 for these different 
items at Newport. The next is the “ Naval training station, Great 
Lakes: Buildings.” The first item is— 

To complete buildings in accordance with the provisions of the act of Con¬ 
gress approved .Tune twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and six, to cost one 
million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, seven hundred and fifty thou¬ 
sand dollars.” 

Do you need all of that this year ? 

Admiral Converse. I believe Captain Ross thinks it is necessary. 
I would rather that he should appear here and speak for himself. 
All the information that I have is gathered from his statements to 
me and from blueprints and the present existing conditions. He is in 
the city. I think, or if not he can be gotten here very soon. 

The Chairman. Very well. This concludes your Bureau. 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. I wanted to ask you a question. I saw in your 
report that you spoke about the marines, and I would like to ask you 
about what you said. 

Admiral Converse. That is a question which I have considered. 
I would like to have that looked on not as a recommendation which 
I have made, but as a question which I have considered, as to the 
advisability of taking them out of ships. I gave my reasons for it. 
I see that it has started some controversy. 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Admiral Converse. The character of the men in the Navy has 
changed entirely within the last twenty years. It has changed more 
rapidly in the last ten years than at any other period of the Navy. 
Formerly we recruited the Navy entirely from seacoast cities, and 
took into it people of all nationalities. Anybody who was a seafar¬ 
ing man would be taken in. They had no certificates of birth; they 
had no certificates of character; practically they had nothing. If 
they wanted to ship in the Navy, we took them. The result was they 
were rather an unruly set, and it was necessary to have over them, in 


28 


days gone by, a set of men who could enforce discipline, and for that 
purpose, I take it, the marines were sent on board ship. 

At the present time we are recruiting our Navy entirely from 
American citizens. We are recruiting it from the interior of the 
country and teaching the men the duties of men-of-war’s men on 
board ship. We call them sailors, but really they are battle ship’s 
men. They are drawn from exactly the same class as are the marines 
and as are the soldiers. There is no reason, to my mind, why the 
enlisted force of the Navy should require a different class of men 
over them to keep them in order than the soldiers require a specially 
uniformed and paid class of men to keep them in order. 1 hey are 
differently paid, differently uniformed, and while they do some of the 
ship’s duty they do not do all that blue jackets do. They are under 
different officers on board ship, officers not available for general du¬ 
ties. Many of the officers in the service have for years been of the 
opinion that the efficiency of the service would be increased if these 
men were withdrawn and an equal number of blue jackets put into 
their places. This matter has been forced upon me from my posi¬ 
tion as Chief of the Bureau during the last two and a half years, 
and I believe that the opinion of the majority of officers in command 
of our large ships is in favor of withdrawing the marines from the 
ships, utilizing them for guards at navy-yards and naval stations, 
and for expeditionary forces to be embarked in different ships of a 
transport nature and type. Within the past year the marines have 
been entirely withdrawn from our battle ships twice for short peri¬ 
ods of time. Once they were placed in camp at Guantanamo for 
nine days. 

The Chairman. How many marines are there to-day on the ships, 
approximately ? 

Admiral Converse. About 8 to 10 per cent of the complement. Our 
battle ships carry the ordinary guards, which for a battle ship is 60 
marines, and on the flagship it is increased to 72. In this connec¬ 
tion I would like to read this paper: 

U. S. FLAGsmr Maine, 

Target Grounds, off Cape Cruz, Cuba, April 2, 1906. 

Sir: 1. I respectfully submit for the information and consideration of the 
Department letters from each of the commanding officers of the twelve ships 
of the first squadron and Fourth Division relating to the manner and efficiency 
with which the police, orderly, and other duties usually performed by marines 
were performed by enlisted men of the Navy during the absence of the marines 
for a period of nine days while at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 

2. During the stay of the fleet at Guantanamo Bay I directed that all the 
marines of the fleet, including the marine battalion of the U. S. S. Yankee, who 
was then present, encamp on shore for shore drills and the experience of camp 
life from the morning of March 8 to the morning of March 17. 

3. Commading officers were directed to detail enlisted men of the seaman 
branch to take the place of the marines while they were on shore and were 
directed to make report of the manner in which these men of the seaman branch 
performed their duties. A copy of my letter to commanding officers relating 
to this report is inclosed. 

4. I beg to set forth the marine complement of the 12 vessels and in the oppo¬ 
site column the number of men in the seaman branch who performed their 
duties while they were on shore. 


U. S. flagship Maine. 

U. S. S. Missouri. 

U. S. S. Kentucky. 

U. S. S. Kearsarge. 

U.S. flagship Alabama. 

U.S.S. Illinois. 

U. S. S. Iowa. 

U. S. S. Indiana. 

U. S. flagship West Virginia 

U. S. S. Colorado. 

U. S. S. Pennsylvania. 

U. S. S. Maryland. 

Total. 

Average. 


Marine 

Seaman 

comple- 

branch 

ment. 

detailed. 

73 

43 

69 

20 

60 

30 

60 

30 

66 

43 

60 

21 

60 

26 

60 

21 

60 

22 

60 

11 

60 

13 

60 

20 

748 

300 

62 

25 


5. It will be seen from the above table that the number of enlisted men to 
perform the duties of sixty or more marines varied from 11 to 43, the two high 
numbers of 43 being flagships. 

6. It will appear from the accompanying reports of commanding officers that 
the men generally were not specially selected for this duty and that of the 300 
men performing the duties for nine days there was but one case of dereliction; 
also on some of the ships the men were not excused from doing much of their 
general ship’s work. 

7. I would add also that no extra officers were required to replace the absent 
marine officers and that no officer was burdened with additional duties during 
their absence, unless it were the executive officer, who had, of course, to arrange 
and supervise the necessary details. 

8. The way in which these men of the seaman branch took hold of and per¬ 
formed duties to which they were unused and unfamiliar appears to me to be 
highly commendable, and I accordingly bring it to the Department’s notice. 

9. I would add that at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, there was a considerable 
number of instances of “ drunkenness on board ” or among sailing parties and 
that there have been some attempts to smuggle liquor on board, so that it was 
not a case where the police duties of the ship were nominal. 

Very respectfully, 


R. D. Evans, 

Rear-Admiral, TJ. S. Navy, 
Commander in Chief United States Atlantic Fleet. 


The Secretary of the Navy, 

Navy Department, Washington, D. C. 


The Chairman. What other navies have marines on board ship? 

Admiral Converse. England only. 

The Chairman. Do they have marines in any other navies? 

Admiral Converse. I think not. That is my recollection, and I 
think they are gradually assimilating them in the English navy, as 
I recollect, with their blue jackets. 

The Chairman. They are making them all into blue jackets? 

Admiral Converse. They are doing away with the distinction be¬ 
tween the two on the ship. They used to have marine artillerymen 
and marine infantrymen. I think they are wiping out the distinc¬ 
tions and having the marines do the duty of blue jackets. 

The Chairman. Are there any other matters in your report that 
you would like to speak of ? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir; I do not think of any other. It is 
not generally known or realized that when the vessels were sent to 
Cuba this fall the two vessels that arrived in Cuba first had no 
marines on board, and the landing parties which were sent ashore in 
Habana and Cienfuegos were composed of blue jackets entirely. They 
handled the situation until the marines arrived later and did valuable 


































30 


service in guarding sugar estates and other American property. The 
ship at Cienfuegos landed about 100 of its crew, and their duties on 
shore were performed splendidly. The commanding officer of that 
ship does not wish to have any marines sent to his ship. The battle 
ship Massachusetts for a year or a year and a half while she was in 
the battle-ship squadron had no marines on board. The blue jackets 
do not like to feel that they are distrusted and that marines are kept 
over them. 

The Chairman. Is not the whole question as to whether you shall 
have marines on board all the time a matter of regulation in the 
Department ? 

Admiral Converse. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. There is no law provided concerning it ? 

Admiral Converse. No, sir; except general law—the Revised 
Statutes, sections 1611, 1616, 1617, 1618, 1619, 1620, and 1621. The 
first of the revised statutes mentioned provides that the President of 
the United States may divide the marines up into companies and 
detachments, and so forth, as he may see fit. 

Section 1616 provides that he may detach marines for duty on 
board ship whenever in his judgment it is desirable to do so. He may 
also detach and appoint officers of the Marine Corps for service on 
board ship. 

One important section (1621) provides that the Marine Corps shall, 
be subject to the laws and regulations of the Navy, except when the 
marines are detached for service with the Army by order of the Presi¬ 
dent. Then they come under army regulations. 

Another proviso is that the President may detail marines, whenever 
he sees proper, to perform the duty of landsmen on board ship. 

Another provides that he can garrison any of the seacoast defenses 
or ports with marines whenever he wishes and assign them to any 
duty on shore. 

The Chairman. But still it is within the regulation of the Depart¬ 
ment ? 

Admiral Converse. Quite within the regulation of the Department. 
All of the marines were withdrawn and sent to Cuba. During that 
entire time the battle-ship squadron was without marines again for 
something like three weeks, I should imagine; and Admiral Evans 
again reports, under date of November 18, 1906, in regard to them: 

These men acted as orderlies, sentries, corporals of the guard, etc., and with¬ 
out an exception performed their duty to the satisfaction of the commanding 
officers of the ships. The men were orderly, intelligent, and zealous, as a rule. 

2. The marine guards of the ships of the first squadron, exclusive of the flag¬ 
ship, number at least GO men. Their duty was performed by the bluejackets, 
averaging about 36 per battle ship, and varying from 31 to 42. I have always 
been of the opinion that a ship’s company of bluejackets alone would be of great 
advantage to the ship, and my opinion is confirmed after seeing the manner in 
which the duty has been performed by these men in the absence of the marine 
guards. 

3. The present guards are larger than are needed on board ship to perform 
the ship’s duty, and I have to recommend that they be reduced to one com¬ 
missioned officer and 36 noncommissioned officers and privates, and that the 
difference between this number and the present guards be made up by an in¬ 
crease of the complement of bluejackets. 

I have here letters from all the commanding officers of the battle 
ships. While they do not any of them state explicitly that they 
would like to have the marines withdrawn, they all state that the 


31 


duty during the absence of the marines was performed equally well, 
if not better, by the bluejackets. 

(At 1 o’clock p, m., the committee adjourned until to-morrow, 
Tuesday, December 11, 1906, at 10.30 o’clock a. m.) 


Navy Department. 

Washington, December 1), 1!)06. 

Sir: The Department has the honor to transmit below, for the information of 
the Committee on Naval Affairs, certain data which was requested by the 
chairman and members upon the occasion of the appearance of the Chief of 
the Bureau of Navigation before the committee on the 10th instant, in con¬ 
nection with the estimates of appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
1908. 

MEN UNDER TRAINING AT TRAINING STATIONS. 

The following table is submitted, from which it is believed an idea may be 
formed of the constantly changing number of men at the three training 
stations: 



June, 

1905. 

Septem¬ 
ber, 1905. 

Decem¬ 
ber, 1905. 

March, 

1906. 

June, 

1906. 

Septem¬ 
ber, 1906. 

Newport. R. I. 

1,191 

734 

1,434 

682 

989 

1,364 

1,519 

609 

1,109 

St. Helena, Va. 

854 

766 

393 

San Francisco. 

59 

179 

284 

529 

272 

184 



COMPARATIVE COST OF MAINTAINING NAVAL AUXILIARIES WITH NAVAL AND WITH 

MERCHANT CREWS. 

Referring to the inquiry made as to the cost of maintaining in commission an 
auxiliary vessel with a naval crew as compared with a merchant complement, 
the Department has the honor to state that the sum required to officer and man 
an auxiliary vessel with a naval crew greatly exceeds the sum which would be 
required to pay and subsist a merchant crew. The yearly cost of pay and 
subsistence of a naval crew on the U. S. S. Cwsar, for example, would be $41,246, 
while with a merchant crew the sum required for the same purpose would he but 
$29,607. The pay and subsistence of officers and men of the supply ship Celtic, 
which is manned by a naval crew, amounts yearly to $67,169, while that of 
officers and men of the collier Ajax, a vessel of about the same size as the 
Celtic, carrying a merchant complement, would amount to only $31,467. 

The cost of manning the U. S. S. Glacier with a naval crew for one year 
amounts to $75,539, while with a merchant crew it could be done for $31,467. 
The above figures are approximate and are based on full complements of the 
vessels mentioned. 

UNITED STATES NAVAL HOME. 

As the committee was advised at the hearing above referred to, the regula¬ 
tions of the Naval Home provide that in consideration of the faithful perform¬ 
ance of such duties in and about the Home as may he directed by the governor 
or commanding officer, each beneficiary shall receive $2 per month. This was 
afterwards increased to $3, and was paid up to March 1, 1906. Upon the ques¬ 
tion of the establishment of the rate of writer at the Home, at a compensation 
of $10 per month, the Comptroller of the Treasury rendered a decision, under 
date of March 22, 1906, to the effect that as the appropriation for the support of 
the Home provides specifically for 49 employees, other personal services than 
those authorized by the act are prohibited by section 3679 of the Revised 
Statutes. This was considered to also cover the cases of beneficiaries who had 
been receiving a compensation of $3 per month for extra services performed, 
and consequently payment of this sum was stopped. No compensation has been 
received by the beneficiaries for services rendered from March 1, 1906, to June 
















32 


30, 1906, and payment of workmen employed by the governor during the latter 
part of March lias also been withheld, in conformity with the decision of the 
Comptroller above referred to. 

An estimate for $1,205.66 has accordingly been submitted to pay the bene¬ 
ficiaries for extra duties performed by them during the above-mentioned period, 
and an estimate of $56 has been submitted for the purpose of paying a 
mechanic and carpenter employed by the governor of the Home during the lat¬ 
ter part of March. 

The naval appropriation act approved June 29, 1906, authorizes the Secre¬ 
tary of the Navy to employ, on the recommendation of the governor, bene¬ 
ficiaries in the Naval Home, whose compensation shall be fixed by the Secre¬ 
tary and paid from the appropriation for the support of the Home. 

The committee is informed that the expense of maintaining the Home is 
paid out of the interest on the “ naval pension fund,” which accrues from total 
Government receipts from sales of prizes and from suits for depredations of 
timber belonging to the United States. This fund amounts to $14,000,000, and 
the annual interest, at 3 per cent, is turend over to the Secretary of the Navy. 
The amount of this interest, viz, about $420,000, is deposited with the Secretary 
of the Interior toward the payment of naval pensions, with the exception of 
the sum which is necessary for the support of the Home. Any balances re¬ 
maining from the appropriation for the support of the Home, instead of being 
turned back into the surplus fund of the Treasury, are credited to the inter¬ 
est on the naval pension fund. 

CERTIFICATE OF AGE UPON APPLICATION FOR ENLISTMENT. 

The question was asked the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation whether 
an applicant presenting himself at an army recruiting station would be re¬ 
quired to submit the same evidence as to his age as the law directs shall be 
done in the Navy. The Department considers, however, that this information 
might be more properly furnished by the War Department, and suggests that 
the committee address such inquiry as it may desire to make upon this sub¬ 
ject to the Secretary of War. 

Very Respectfully, Charles J. Bonaparte, 

Secretary. 

The Chairman Committee on Naval Affairs, 

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. 


[Mo. 2.] 

BUREAU OF ORDNANCE—STATEMENT OF REAR-ADMIRAL N. E. 
MASON, CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF ORDNANCE, NAVY DEPART¬ 
MENT. 


Committee on Naval Affairs, 

House of Representatives, 

Wednesday, December 12, 1906. 

The committee met at 10.30 o’clock a. m., Hon. George PL Foss 
(chairman) in the chair. 

The Chairman. We begin on page 26 of the bill: 

Bureau of Ordnance. Ordnance and stores: For procuring, producing, pre¬ 
serving, and handling ordnance material; for the armament of ships; for fuel, 
material, and labor to he used in the general work of the Ordnance Department, 
etc. 

Last year the appropriation was $3,500,000, and this year you ask 
for $4,146,457. How do you make that out? 

Admiral Mason. The following is a detailed statement concerning 
this estimate: 

Detailed explanation of the necessity for the appropriation “Ordnance and 
ordnance stores ” for the fiscal year 1901-8 , amounting to 


Ordnance and ordnance stores, $4,146,457, itemized as follows: 

First general clause— 

(a) For procuring, producing, preserving and handling ordnance ma¬ 
terial. (Note: This item is embraced in (&) and (c), being 
simply part of the definition of the use of the appropriation. 

(b) For the armament of ships_ $142,580 

(c) For fuel, material, and labor to be used in the general work of 
the Ordnance Department, exclusive of watchmen and maintenance 

of the naval proving ground and powder factory_2,251,513 

((/) For watchmen at magazines, powder factories, and powder 
depots_ 34, 500 

( e ) For furniture in ordnance buildings at navy-yards and stations- 1,125 

(f) For maintenance of proving ground and powder factory- 65,681 

\y) For target practice - 1,651,058 


4,146, 457 

This appropriation has been itemized, as directed by the Department in its 
circular letter of September 7, 1906. 

It is pointed out that the estimated amount set opposite each item as a pos¬ 
sible expenditure is only approximate and liable to be increased or diminished 
by unforeseen contingencies, and also that the aggregate amount appropriated 
for several purposes may be. in fact, differently distributed among them. For 
instance, the expressions “ for procuring, producing, preserving, and handling 
ordnance material,” “ for the armament of ships,” “ for fuel, material, and labor 
to be used in the general work of the Ordnance Department.” “ for mainte¬ 
nance of the proving ground and powder factory,” and “ for target practice ” 
have practically the same meaning, labor and material being used for all in a* 
increased or diminished amount as occasion may demand. 


n p—07 


3 


33 









34 


Tlie appropriations under this head for the past six years have been as 
follows: 


1901-2 _!_ $500,000 

Deficiency_ 300, 000 


Total _ 800, 000 

1902-3 _ 800, 000 

Deficiency_ 500, 000 


Total 

1903- 4 _ 

1904- 5 _ 

Deficiency _ 

Total 

1905- 6 _ 

1906- 7 


1, 300, 000 

1, 500, 000 

2, 000,000 
500, 000 


2, 500, 000 

3, 000, 000 
3, 500, 000 


The Bureau has increased its estimates under this head by $646,457, making 
a total of $4,146,457, as above stated. 


The Chairman. Why is that? 

Admiral Mason. The Bureau has done this under the assumption 
that there will be in full or partial commission during the fiscal year 
1908 24 battle ships, 12 first-class cruisers, 66 second and third rate 
vessels, 60 torpedo vessels, and 15 auxiliaries, making a total of ITT 
vessels. 

This represents an increase of 38 vessels over the present fiscal 
year, 5 of which are battle ships, 2 first-class cruisers, 9 second and 
third rate vessels, and 22 torpedo vessels. Four hundred and fifty- 
one thousand and fifty-three dollars of this estimate is for an increase 
of target-practice appropriation over last year, as it is absolutely 
necessary to provide for the additional vessels above mentioned. The 
increase over that previously asked is due to the increase in the num¬ 
ber and size of vessels which will be engaged in target practice. 

It was put in this working appropriation—about $1,400,000. 

The Chairman. This will give you about a million and a half for 
target practice? 

Admiral Mason. Yes, sir. We are going to have a good many 
more battle ships, and their target practice would cost more. “ Ord¬ 
nance and ordnance stores ” is a general appropriation for carrying on 
all the work of the Ordnance Department of any kind, except that for 
vessels under construction or for purposes otherwise especially ap¬ 
propriated for. It includes work at navy-yards, magazines, and the 
naval proving ground; all material and labor necessary for the care 
and preservation of ordnance stores on shore and afloat; furniture 
in the ordnance buildings at navy-yards, and in magazines and sta¬ 
tions; labor, watchmen, fuel, tools, and a great variety of miscel¬ 
laneous items not otherwise provided for. 

The expenses under this working appropriation of the Bureau 
necessarily increase with every ship added to the Navy, and the 
amount asked for is believed to be the minimum consistent.with effi¬ 
ciency and safety. 

The Chairman. Will you have an unexpended balance in this this 
year, do you think ? 

Admiral Mason. I am sure not, without our system of accounts 
allows some money turned into the Treasury that we can not help. 
On our last appropriation, although we worked as carefully as we 

















35 


could and supposed that we had expended the whole appropriation, 
there was, or will be, a sum of about $175,000, probably, turned in 
which we needed very much for a great many modifications and 
changes; but it was simply because of the transfer of accounts, be¬ 
cause of our not knowing how our accounts stood, not keeping the 
books ourselves. 

Mr. Roberts. How does it happen that this money gets turned into 
the Treasury? 

Admiral Mason. Transfers were made. We did not expend it. 
We held up necessary work which we should have used the money for, 
simply because we did not think we had it. 

Mr. Roberts. Not having a set of books in your own department, 
you could not tell how you stood with regard to the amount available? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; and not being informed by the accounting 
bureau until several months later, we did not spend the money; we 
did not obligate the money. 

Mr. Roberts. You did not spend the money that you should have 
spent and really needed ? 

Admiral Mason. And at the end of the fiscal year we could not do 
anything. 

Mr. Roberts. Had you known how you stood, you could have used 
that $175,000? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; we could have used it in modifying and 
modernizing the work. 

The situation in regard to expenditures is this: Material, under the 
cognizance of the Bureau of Ordnance, is bought under several ap¬ 
propriations, “ Increase of the Navy, armor and armament,” “ Re¬ 
serve guns for auxiliary cruisers,” “ Reserve guns for ships of the 
Navy,” and out of the annual appropriation “ Ordnance and ord¬ 
nance stores.” When material bought under these several appro¬ 
priations is required for use other than that to which the Accounting 
Bureau considers strictly chargeable to the appropriation under 
which the material is bought a transfer of funds is involved, of 
which the Bureau of Ordnance may have no accurate knowledge 
until some time after the transaction is closed. These transactions 
sometimes amount to considerable sums, in excess of $150,000 for a 
single month, or even a single transaction, and as a result it has been 
practically impossible for the Bureau to be sure that its balances 
near the end of a fiscal year are on the safe side. Formerly this un¬ 
certainty was not of such serious importance as it has been since the 
passage of the deficiency act of March 3, 1905, with its stringent pro¬ 
visions on the subject of deficiencies, inasmuch as prior to the passage 
•of this act the Bureau, while making every effort to keep within its 
appropriations, could, if a deficiency were unwittingly or necessarily 
incurred, make to Congress a satisfactory explanation accompanying 
a deficiency bill. Since the passage of this act this Bureau, with the 
cooperation of the Accounting Bureau of the Department, has taken 
several steps looking to prompter and more accurate statements of 
actual balances, but even with such measures as have been taken or 
suggested, short of such prohibitive ones as might seriously interrupt 
necessary work, or even keep from ships in commission imperatively 
needed material, there is no certainty that the Bureau can authorize 
obligations to a closer limit of the appropriation “Ordnance and 
ordnance stores ” than $100,000 without risking an infraction of the 


36 


law contained in the act referred to. The appropriation “ Ordnance 
and ordnance stores ” is mentioned specifically because it is the one 
chiefly involved, the other appropriations under which material is 
purchased not being annual. 

The Chairman. I see the proviso is stricken out of last year. 

Admiral Mason. What is that ? 

The Chairman. The proviso— 

That no part of this appropriation shall he expended for the purchase of 
shells or projectiles except for shells or projectiles purchased in accordance 
with the terms and conditions of proposals submitted by the Secretary of the 
Navy to all of the manufacturers of shells and projectiles, and upon bids re¬ 
ceived in accordance with the terms and requirements of such proposals. All 
shells and projectiles shall conform to the standards prescribed by the Secre¬ 
tary of the Navy. 

Is there any objection to keeping that in? 

Admiral Mason. No more than the original objection that we had 
to going into competition for armor-piercing shells. 

The Chairman. What has been the effect of it? 

Admiral Mason. The effect has been to place the contracts all in 
the hands of one company. 

The Chairman. To place the contracts all in the hands of one 
compaiw ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; their bid was decidedhr lower than any¬ 
body else’s, and in all probability the bids which are to be opened in 
four or five days will also be lower. 

The Chairman. So that heretofore you divided up the work, did 
you—distributed it? 

Admiral Mason. Distributed, not divided; because the Depart¬ 
ment gave the bulk of the work to the firm that they knew could 
furnish the required articles in compliance with the specifications. 
In addition, small orders were given to other large firms, who ex¬ 
pressly desired to develop this particular kind of ordnance material, 
and they were given a chance to do so. 

The Chairman. What is going to be the effect of this? Is it going 
to be to drive the other fellows out of business, so far as the Govern¬ 
ment bidding is concerned ? 

Admiral Mason. I am afraid so; without some of the large steel 
companies, by quite a large expenditure of money, acquire or develop 
a process of their own, by which they can comply with the Depart¬ 
ment’s high specifications for armor-piercing projectiles. This they 
have endeavored to do in the past, without much success. 

The Chairman. What is the companv that got the contracts for 
this? 

Admiral Mason. The Firth-Sterling Steel Company. 

The Chairman. They have got a monopoly of the business? 

Mr. Kitchin. Where is that located ? 

Admiral Mason. In Pittsburg, Pa., and they are building quite an 
extensive establishment across the river here, at Giesboro Point. 

The Chairman. What was the difference between their bid and 
that of other companies on the work? State generally the per¬ 
centage. 

Admiral Mason. Approximately 40 per cent. The total bids were 
as follows: Firth-Sterling Steel Company, $322,500: Bethlehem Steel 
Company, $541,850; and the Midvale Steel Company, $554,900. 


37 


T will say that the Firth-Sterling Steel Company in their bids this 
time bid exactly the same prices as the prices they have been charg¬ 
ing ns for the past three or four years. They made no change in 
their prices, although there was competition, and I considered their 
prices, from what T know of the manufacture, as fair and reasonable. 

Mr. Roberts. Then that provision of the law last year has not 
cheapened the cost of the projectiles to the Government. 

Admiral Mason. No. 

Mr. Kit chin. It has cheapened, too. 

Mr. Roberts. No; it has not cheapened it. They were about 40 
per cent under their competitors. 

Admiral Mason. The idea being that these competitors could not 
afford to start in, taking a jump in the dark, and bid a low price. 
They had to put in a price that would cover their plants and their ex¬ 
perimental work. 

Mr. Kitchin. But the result of this provision is that upon a great 
deal of your material you get it 10 or 15 per cent cheaper than you 
did before? 

Mr. Roberts. You say that before you had been distributing the 
contracts for armor-piercing projectiles? 

Admira 1 M ason. Yes; in a manner. In 1903 to induce competi¬ 
tion the Bureau gave orders for armor-piercing shell to four of the 
principal steel companies, with the idea of enabling them to develop 
their facilities for the manufacture of this class of projectile. The 
results were not very satisfactory. Since that date until this adver¬ 
tising was made mandatory the Bureau has endeavored to distribute 
its orders for target and common shell among these companies in 
such manner as would best tend to keep their projectile plants in 
an efficient condition. As a result of advertising, however, the Firth- 
Sterling Steel Company are now manufacturing practically all the 
shell of large calibers, target as well as armor-piercing, on outstand¬ 
ing Bureau contracts. This is, of course, because they underbid their 
competitors. 

Mr. R oberts. So that these competitors of the Firth-Sterling Com¬ 
pany did last year put in their bids at practically the same prices at 
which you had been awarding them small contracts heretofore? 

Admiral Mason. No; they were rather higher, probably because in 
view of their past experience these companies realized the difficulty 
of complying with the service requirements for this class of shell. 

Mr. Roberts. They did not get into a competition with the Firth- 
Sterling people, really? 

Admiral Mason. There was a competition, because it was adver¬ 
tised and evervbody had a chance to bid. 

Mr. R oberts. I understand there was a technical competition, but 
no real competition. The Firth-Sterling people put in the same bids 
as always, and the other people bid considerably higher? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Iv itchin. About how many bidders were there this time? 

Admiral Mason. The Firth-Sterling Steel Company, the Bethle¬ 
hem Steel Company, and the Midvale Steel Company. 

Mr. Kitchin. Did you have any reason to think that there was 
any understanding between these bidders? 

Admiral Mason. Not a bit. We have new advertisements out, and 
I have been asked for information by different firms concerning the 


38 


advertisements. I do not think there is any combination between 
them at all. 

Mr. Roberts. Let me ask you this: A few years ago there was 
some concern located in Lynn who were making small projectiles for 
the Navy- 

Admiral Mason. The American Ordnance Company, now consoli¬ 
dated with the American and British Manufacturing Company. 

Mr. Roberts. Are they in competition at all, or doing any busi¬ 
ness? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; they bid on minor-caliber projectiles and 
on some of the smaller target shell. 

Mr. Roberts. They do not make the larger ones ? 

Admiral Mason. No; they do not make larger armor-piercing pro¬ 
jectiles. We always have had competition for everything except 
armor-piercing projectiles ever since I have been in the Bureau—for 
target shell and common shell there was always competition. We 
did not advertise, but our custom was to write to the different firms 
and inform them that on a certain day we would open letters bidding 
on certain projectiles. Of course, now we advertise for everything. 
We got competition for target shells. All we want is to have the 
target shell strong enough to get out of the gun and get to the 
target without breaking up. An armor-piercing shell is an entirely 
different thing. It is something that not many people can make. 

The Chairman. Would you recommend that we restore this proviso 
as to advertising for shell this year or not ? 

Admiral Mason. For policy I would prefer to leave it out. I will 
say that I have not the least idea who scratched it out. (See Appen¬ 
dix A for tabulated lists of contracts and prices of armor-piercing 
shell, 1903-1906, inclusive.) 

The Chairman. The next is— 

Ammunition and other supplies for new ships (heretofore included in appro¬ 
priation “Armor and armament”), seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 

That was included before in “Armor and armament? ” 

Admiral Mason. Yes. The following is a statement concerning 
this estimate: 

Ammunition and other supplies for new ships, heretofore included in appro¬ 
priation “Increase of the Nary, armor and armament 

Amount asked for, $750,000. 

It is most strongly urged that ammunition and other supplies for new vessels 
l>e appropriated for under the title “ Ordnance and ordnance stores,” for the 
following reasons : 

First. In consequence of an exhaustive consideration of the subject by the 
Board on Construction, in conference with the Paymaster-General and the 
Judge-Advocate-General of the Navy, it has been decided that under existing 
law the appropriations under the various Bureaus under the general title “ In¬ 
crease of the Navy.” should he construed as covering expenses for only such 
items of equipage as are defined by the Navy Regulations as coming under 
title “ B.” 

This decision has been approved by the Secretary of the Navy, and tends to 
exclude the ammunition and other supplies asked for from the title “Armor and 
armament.” 

Second. Under existing conditions, with ammunition and ordnance supplies 
carried under the two titles “Armor and armament” and “Ordnance and ord¬ 
nance stores,” this Bureau, being by regulation forbidden to keep accounts, is 
absolutely unable to keep a businesslike control and cognizance of this material 
under the separate titles. When the ammunition and supplies under both titles 



39 


are issued to the naval magazines, the Bureau practically loses knowledge of 
the title under which the material is carried. 

Great care has been and is taken by the Bureau to insure that in the pur¬ 
chase of these materials the proper separation of titles is observed, but, this 
done, the Bureau is practically powerless to further scrutinize the titles. 

This lack of knowledge, as regards titles, is shared by the officials in charge 
of naval magazines. 

The result is that the ammunition and, to a lesser degree, supplies are fre¬ 
quently issued under a title other than their proper one. This results in a 
transfer against the appropriation to which they are issued in favor of the one 
under which they are purchased. Knowledge of this transfer is not received 
by the Bureau from the accounting Bureau until a considerable time afterwards. 
The result of this is that the Bureau experiences great difficulty in preventing 
the deficiencies under certain appropriations which may result from such 
transfers. 

A case in point is as follows: 

In July, 190G, material, probably ammunition, was issued from the navy- 
yard. Mare Island, for other than new vessels. This material was carried 
under “ Armor and armament.” The result was a transfer of $106,000 against 
the appropriation “ Ordnance and ordnance stores.” This transfer was not 
reported to this Bureau until the November statement received from the 
Bureau of Supplies and Accounts. In the meantime the monthly statements 
received from that Bureau showed a satisfactory balance under that appro¬ 
priation, and indicated that, in that portion of the appropriation allotted to 
the month of July, there was an unexpended balance of about $112,000. Acting 
on this information the Bureau felt justified in expending this balance. 

It is very possible that the knowledge of similar transfers may not be re¬ 
ceived by the Bureau until after the end of the fiscal year, which would result 
in a deficiency forbidden by law, and which the Bureau would be powerless to 
prevent. 

Appropriation for ammunition and supplies for new vessels under “Ordnance 
and ordnance stores,” as is recommended, would place all these materials 
under one title and would prevent such transfers and the resulting embarrass¬ 
ment to the Bureau. 

The above amount ($750,000) has been deducted from the estimates under 
“ Increase of the Navy, armor and armament.” 

Note (a).—Incident to the appropriation “Ammunition and other supplies for 
new ships ” under appropriation “ Ordnance and ordnance stores,” it is re¬ 
quested that a clause be inserted providing that ammunition and other supplies 
already on hand or contracted for under appropriation “ Armor and armament ” 
shall be thereby transferred to appropriation “ Ordnance and ordnance stores,” 
the same as if purchased under that appropriation. Unless this is done an 
appropriation of $2,000,000 will be required under “Ordnance and ordnance 
stores ” to cover transfers of ammunition now on hand or contracted for and 
carried under “ Armor and armament,” which will be issued to new vessels 
after July 1, 1007. (See note under appropriation “Increase of the Navy, 
armor and armament.”) 

Note (b).—Should Congress fail to appropriate the above sum under “Ord¬ 
nance and ordnance stores,” it should be again included under “ Increase of 
the Navy, armor and armament.” 

The Chairman. Have you cut down the estimate for armor and 
armament that much ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. That is mentioned in the statement above. 
Mr. Kitchin. Before you leave that, at page 27 the appropriation 
under the main item was recommended this year to be $4,14(5,000, and 
the reason of the great increase is because there are now more ships 
than heretofore? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Kitchin. Could you give us an approximate idea of what that 
would be if we had our present Navy completed, with all the ships 
authorized ? 

Admiral Mason. Under this heading the Bureau estimates that by 
the time the present construction is finished it will be increased to 


40 


$5,197,000. This takes in all vessels down to and including the New 
Hampshire , South Carolina , and Michigan , and is what it is now 
estimated the appropriation “ Ordnance and ordnance stores ” will 
amount to. 

Mr. Kitchin. The amount of the annual cost after the ships are 
completed is a matter that is desired to be known as accurately as 
possible now, I think. 

Admiral Mason. I have given that. 

The Chairman. You can put that statement in? 

Admiral Mason. Yes, sir. It does not affect the situation except in 
this: This $750,000 is what we want appropriated this year for ammu¬ 
nition for new ships. I think the committee understand that it is 
not considered advisable to charge to the building of ships such stores 
as are expendable or perishable. 

The Chairman. It is a matter of bookkeeping? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. In addition to that, a clause will have to 
be put in this part of the bill, or under “Armor and armament,” say¬ 
ing that the two millions of ammunition—that is, the powder, and 
so forth, that we already have purchased under armor and arma¬ 
ment—should be transferred to ordnance and ordnance stores without 
a charge against that appropriation. That is, we have been purchas¬ 
ing the ammunition for these new ships. The note in the statement 
explains it. 

Mr. Roberts. If this $750,000 on page 27 is not allowed, you want 
an increase in armor and armament by that amount ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. Incident to the appropriation “Ammuni¬ 
tion and other supplies for new ships,” under appropriation “ Ord¬ 
nance and ordnance stores,” it is requested that a clause be inserted 
providing that ammunition and other supplies already on hand or 
contracted for under appropriation “Armor and armament ” shall be 
thereby transferred to appropriation “ Ordnance and ordnance 
stores,” the same as if purchased under that appropriation. Unless 
this is done, an additional appropriation of $2,000,000 w T ill be re¬ 
quired under “ Ordnance and ordnance stores ” to cover transfers of 
ammunition now on hand or contracted for. 

The Chairman. With that exception you will get along just as 
you have in the past ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; but we will not be bothered by transfers 
from one appropriation to another. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Purchase and manufacture of smoke¬ 
less powder,” $500,000. That is the same as last year ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes, sir; the same as last year. 

The Chairman. Can we not get that down, or have we got to have 
that every year ? 

Admiral Mason. It is the same thing every year. It has been 
so except the year of the Spanish Avar, and then it Avas $1,000,000. 

The Chairman. How much do you purchase and hoAV much do 
you manufacture out of that? 

Admiral Mason. We use it almost all up in the manufacture of 
powder at the Government plant at Indian Head. It practically 
keeps our powder factory running. 

Mr. Butler. Where does the appropriation come from for smoke¬ 
less powder? 

Admiral Mason. Part of it out of the appropriation “Armor and 


41 


armament,” and the remainder out of the various items under 
“ Ordnance and ordnance stores.” 

Mr. Kitchin. Outside of the smokeless powder secured under 
this appropriation, about how much do you spend for smokeless 
powder, if any? 

Admiral Mason. Outside of this item of $500,000 we have asked 
for about $700,000 for powder for target practice and about $1,000,- 
000 for a reserve supply of powder. 

Mr. Kitchin. So that you really buy how much? 

Admiral Mason. In all, we expect to expend about $1,700,000 in 
purchase and $500,000 in manufacture. 

Mr. Kitchin. You buy three or four times as much powder as 
you manufacture ? • 

Admiral Mason. Yes. The Government factory turns out about 
one-fourth of the total amount. 

Mr. Butler. What is your price now on the manufacture of smoke¬ 
less powder? 

Admiral Mason. The estimated cost of manufacture at the Indian 
Head plant is 54.6 cents per pound. This includes the cost of the 
alcohol used, but does not include interest on capital invested or 
administrative expense. 

The whole question of the price of powder was recently referred 
to a joint Army and Navy board composed of officers familiar with 
the manufacture of powder. This board, after going over the sub¬ 
ject very carefully, decided that a fair price to be paid to outside 
companies manufacturing smokeless powder for the Government 
was 69 cents a pound, the companies to furnish the alcohol. This 
amounts to a reduction of about 5 cents a pound on the price which 
has been paid for some years past, as the Government has heretofore 
been required to pay for the alcohol at about 4 cents per pound of 
powder, and has paid the companies 70 cents for the finished prod¬ 
uct, making the actual cost to the Government 74 cents. 

Mr. Roberts. That is, the Government manufactures for 15 and 
a fraction cents less than you can buy it for? 

Admiral Mason. That is true if you disregard interest on the 
plant and administrative expensed. 

As I stated to the committee last year, there is no real competition 
between the companies manufacturing smokeless powder for the 
Government, as all these companies are practically controlled bv a 
single management. This makes it necessary for us to watch the 
cost of production pretty closely, and to insist upon a reduction of 
price whenever experience at Indian Head indicates that such a re¬ 
duction can be made without unfairness to the companies. The joint 
Army and Navy board, to which I have referred, looked at all sides 
of this question, and I am satisfied that its conclusion was fair to 
both sides. The new price fixed by this board, and which, as I 
have already stated, involved an actual reduction of nearly or quite 
5 cents, has'been applied to all contracts for smokeless powder made 
since the report Avas approved, October 1, 1906. 

The Chairman. Can Ave not get a copy of the report of the joint 
Army and Navy board? 

Admiral Mason. A copy of the report of the joint Army and Navy 
board concerning the price, etc., of smokeless is hereto appended, 
marked “Appendix C.” 


42 


The Chairman. Have you any report showing the cost of the 
powder plant; how much we have spent on it? 

Admiral Mason. Do you mean our own plant ? 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Admiral Mason. We have an estimated cost. I think it is in the 
report of the joint board and also in the report that came to the Senate 
and House last j^ear. I very much doubt the advisability of publish¬ 
ing the report of the joint board, as it contains information which 
ought not to be made public. 

Mr. Roberts. Was the reduced cost of powder brought about by 
the reduction in the price of alcohol due to the free-alcohol bill ? 

Admiral Mason. No. The companies have never been required to 
pay duty on the alcohol used in the manufacture of powder for the 
Government. The alcohol is withdrawn from bond under certificates 
of the Bureau of Ordnance. 

Mr. Roberts. In speaking of the price paid for powder you have 
included cost of alcohol, but it appears that you get that alcohol for 
them free of duty. 

Admiral Mason. Yes. They pay for the alcohol, but we get it for 
them free of duty. If this alcohol paid the tax, it would make the 
powder cost very much more. We sign permits and it is very care¬ 
fully watched by our inspectors to see that none of the alcohol de¬ 
livered to the companies under this arrangement is used for anything 
else than Government powder. 

Mr. Roberts. I want to get in mind this difference in cost. At one 
time you furnished the alcohol to the private manufacturers and then 
paid them so much a pound for the powder. 

Admiral Mason. We paid TO cents a pound and furnished the alco¬ 
hol, which amounted to 4 cents more. This made the powder cost the 
Government 74 cents. We now pay 69 cents and require the compa¬ 
nies to furnish their own alcohol, but we continue the arrangement 
with the Treasury Department by which the alcohol is furnished free 
of duty. 

Mr. Roberts. They pay for the alcohol themselves at the price 
which would be charged to you if you had to furnish it? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Kitchin. Who has charge of the Government powder factory 
now? 

Admiral Mason. Lieutenant-Commander Strauss. 

Mr. Kitchin. How long has he been there ? 

Admiral Mason. He has been there about six months this time. He 
served one tour of duty there several years ago. 

Mr. Roberts. How long a tour of duty do officers get there ? 

Admiral Mason. We try to keep them three years on shore duty at 
such important stations as the powder factory, the Bureau, and the 
torpedo station. 

Mr. Kitchin. Have you any opinion as to the probable increase in 
the cost of smokeless powder at the Government plant at present as 
compared with the cost of it, say three years ago ? 

Admiral Mason. I think we have cheapened the process somewhat, 
but I am not able to say exactly how much. 

Mr. Kitchin. You think we make it as cheap now as we ever did? 

Admiral Mason. Decidedly so; and in addition to that, we have 
bettered the quality. 


43 


Mr. Ivitchin. You have cheapened the cost and improved the 
quality at the Government plant ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Ivitchin. Does the Government powder compare favorably 
with that which you buy? 

Admiral Mason. It is exactly the same. We watch the processes 
of the powder companies very carefully, and require them to con¬ 
form in all essential respects to the processes which we have found 
important at the Government plant. 

Mr. Ivitchin. So that, as far as possible, there is no difference in 
the product? 

Admiral Mason. There is practically no difference. We have 
commissioned officers as inspectors, who exercise a general super¬ 
vision over the details of manufacture at the various plants; and 
they are assisted by subinspectors who are carefully trained, skilled 
employees of the Government, and who are at all times actually on 
the ground supervising every detail of manufacture. 

Mr. Ivitchin. Is the cost of that inspection included in the 69 
cents paid for the powder, or does the Government have to pay that 
in addition to what it pays for the manufacture? 

Admiral Mason. The cost of inspection is an additional charge. 

Mr. Ivitchin. Is it included in the cost at the Government fac¬ 
tory? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Ivitchin. So that, in order to get at an accurate comparison 
between the cost of powder manufactured at the Government plant 
and that bought from the powder companies, you would have to add 
the cost of this inspection to the cost of the powder purchased from 
the companies? 

Admiral Mason. That is one of the matters that was taken into 
account by the joint Army and Navy board in fixing the price to be 
paid. The whole matter of cost was gone over very carefully by this 
board, which was made up of officers nominated for the duty by the 
Naval Bureau of Ordnance and the Chief of Ordnance of the Army. 
We have kept in touch with the Army throughout this whole matter, 
because they use the same powder, although not as much of it as 
we do. 

The Chairman. What are these “ Machine tools for navy-yard, 
Boston, thirty-nine thousand dollars? ” 

Admiral Mason. The following statement shows the necessity for 
this appropriation: 


Machine tools, navy-yard, Boston, Mass-—,-$39, 000 

This estimate embraces the following items: 

Machine tools- -$30, 000 

Small tools_ 4, 000 

Overhead trolley system for machine shop- 2, 000 

Machinery and tools for blacksmith shop- 3, 000 

Total __ 39,000 


In the last naval bill Congress appropriated $15,000 for the pur¬ 
chase of machine tools for the Ordnance Department at this yard. 
Prior to this installation thus provided for this ordnance shop had 
no machine tools of any kind. Tools purchased under this appropri- 







44 


ation carried in the naval bill of 1900-7 have brought this equip¬ 
ment of the ordnance shop at this yard about on an equality with the 
ordnance-shop equipment of a first-class battle ship. 

During a period of some years this yard was virtually closed, 
and, especially in the ordnance department, fell into a condition 
which has required practically complete reequipment. 

This yard is yearly increasing in importance with the growth of 
the Navy, and battle ships are now regularly assigned there for dock¬ 
ing and repair. 

At the present time there are five battle ships at this yard under 
repairs, and the ordnance department of the yard has been almost 
helpless on account of lack of machine tools, necessitating the ord¬ 
nance work being performed by other departments at the yard which 
were themselves overtaxed with work. 

In order to place the ordnance department on a proper footing for 
the work required, this further appropriation of $39,000 for the pur¬ 
chase of machine tools and equipment is considered absolutely neces¬ 
sary. 

The Chairman. Can you not use the money out of the appropria¬ 
tion for ordnance and ordnance stores for this ? 

Admiral Mason. No, sir. We have so many pulls on ordnance and 
ordnance stores that we have been compelled to put in these outside 
requisitions. 

The Chairman. The next is on page 28. 

One electric traveling crane of forty thousand pounds capacity for proposed 
new storehouse at navy yard. League Island, Pennsylvania, seven thousand 
five hundred dollars. 

What is that for ? Have you a crane there now ? 

Admiral Mason. One electrical traveling crane of 40,000 pounds 
capacity for proposed new storehouse at navy-yard, League Island, 
Pa., $7,500. The Bureau has requested the Bureau of Yards and 
Docks to include in its estimates the sum of $46,000 for an addition 
to the ordnance storehouse, and if this is allowed the traveling crane 
will be necessary for its proper equipment. 

Ordnance storage facilities at this yard are inadequate, especially 
as regards guns, mounts, etc., and the crane will be necessary. 

Mr. Butler. Forty-six thousand dollars? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; for an addition to the ordnance storehouse, 
and if the committee grants that appropriation a traveling crane is 
necessary to go into it. 

Mr. Butler. I have that building in my mind, and is it possible that 
that building is not large enough for League Island ? 

Admiral Mason. No, sir. 

Mr. Butler. Will you tell me how many war ships are at League 
Island now? 

Admiral Mason. I do not know, but I do know that within a 
month the Bureau has received a request to keep the ordnance 
material in store on board the Brooklyn in reserve because there was 
not storage room enough. 

Mr. Butler. That is not your fault. 

Admiral Mason. At that yard they are liable at times to have four 
or five ships. 


45 


The Chairman. The next is— 

For Naval Gun Factory, Washington, District of Columbia: New and im¬ 
proved machinery for existing shops, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 

Is that the same as last year? 

Admiral Mason. The same. 

The Chairman. I)o you have it every year? 

Admiral Mason, es. A like amount was appropriated last year 
and it is necessary that the same amount should be appropriated 
this year, owing to the increased number of shops and the working 
of several shifts in all the shops. The consequent wear and tear 
on the present machinery being very great and a large portion of 
it nearing its limit, it requires replenishment in order that some sort 
of a standard of efficiency may be kept up. This is absolutely 
necessary. 

Approximate total value of machinery at Washington Navy-Yard 
is about $4,000,000. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

Machinery, cupolas, furnaces, and so forth, for proposed new foundry, one 
hundred and twenty-one thousand and seventy-five dollars. 

Admiral Mason. That is the same thing that we thrashed out last 
year. It is absolutely necessary. 

The reasons for requiring this item have been so fully stated 
they can only be reiterated. A new foundry is indispensable for the 
economy of the gun factory. It is the most needed of all the im¬ 
provements that could be recommended. The present foundry is 
antiquated and inadequate in size and unsuitable as a foundry for 
an institution like the Naval Gun Factory. On account of its un¬ 
sanitary condition it is a menace to the health of the employees and 
officers of the yard in its present situation. The Government losses 
every year by not having better facilities would soon equal the amount 
requested to properly provide for all the requirements of this portion 
of the plant and its increased product would materially add to the 
production of armament by this factory, saving in both time and 
expense. At the present time the yard foundry is working up to its 
extreme capacity and in case of war the emergency conditions could 
not be met. We are now practically at a standstill on account of 
our inability to obtain castings due on existing requisitions. The 
reasons for this foundry were fully set forth in my hearing before 
the House Naval Committee last year. (No. 38, January 11, 1906.) 

Mr. Butler. It is the beginning of a factory that will ultimately 
cost $4,000,000? 

Admiral Mason. The estimate for this $T21,075 is for machinery. 
I do not know how much yards and docks has in for this year, but I 
think it is $150,000 to start with. It will cost $300,000 for the build¬ 
ing before it is finished. It is going to be a model foundry. I con¬ 
sider it absolutely necessary. We are losing money all the time and 
losing time at the navy-yard here on account of the lack of facilities 
for making castings. 

Mr. Roberts. These castings you propose to make here are the 
small castings? 

Admiral Mason. Small castings and type large castings. The 
castings people are so busy now that unless we give them a big order 
they will not touch it. When we start in on a new design we will 


46 


say, “ Here are certain improvements we will put in,” and we do not 
want to send out and get castings for 100 mounts until we try 1 
mount. We try to get castings for a tj^pe mount, and they will not 
touch it. One firm said, “ We will not stop work just to help the Gov¬ 
ernment for that.” 

Mr. Butler. Can you not build it for less than $300,000 ? 

Admiral Mason. You can build a shack down there. The build¬ 
ing proposed will cost $300,000, and the necessary tools, cupolas, fur¬ 
naces, etc., $121,000 more. 

Mr. Butler. Would not that do temporarily? Is it not a fact 
that after the business pressure subsides a little there will be plenty 
of factories to make these? 

Admiral Mason. I do not think so. We have always been sub¬ 
jected to delays in getting castings and have had to pay high prices. 
I think we should have a foundry, and have the best that is going 
and the most modern. 

The Chairman. Of course that is the old story and we know all 
about it, and you can thrash it out here for two hours and not get any 
decision out of it. 

Mr. Roberts. Do you need that 110-ton crane, irrespective of the 
new buildings? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. This estimate is for the remodelling of the 
110-ton crane in north gun shop, and has no connection with the new 
foundry. The estimate is for remodelling 110-ton crane in north gun 
shop, $30,000. 

The 110-ton crane in the north gun shop has been in use about 
fifteen years, and the carriage and trolley are somewhat antiquated, 
besides being very much worn. It is doubtful if these parts will last 
over eight months, and they should be replaced with the latest im¬ 
proved parts, which will make a serviceable crane for use in years to 
come. Original cost of this crane, $82,000. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Machinery for locomotive house, 
twelve thousand dollars.” 

Admiral Mason. Machinery for locomotive house, $12,000. 

The present locomotive house is inadequate for the number of 
locomotives and locomotive cranes we now have, as the extension of 
the Gun Factory has acquired the purchase of additional ones recently. 
It is therefore necessary that we should have a larger house to accom¬ 
modate these machines. The present one does not admit of exten¬ 
sion and the ground it occupies is needed for other purposes. 

Without proper housing facilities in winter steam must be kept up 
on locomotives and cranes all the time to prevent freezing, thus 
greatly increasing running expenses due to attendance and consump¬ 
tion of fuel. Seven of the ten engines and wreckers can not now be 
housed and are consequently exposed to the weather on the outside. 

This machinery is necessary if the locomotive house is built. Item¬ 
ized, the money will be spent as follows: 


One 25-ton overhead crane, complete, with runways_ 

Tracks, switches, frogs, and appliances for drop pit_ 

Hydraulic jacks, tube cleaners, pneumatic drills, and hammers for 
repair work_ 


$ 8 , 000 
3,000 

1, 000 


12, 000 






47 


The Chairman. That is dependent upon the authorization of the 
Jbuilding? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

The Chairman. The next is “ For modernizing the battery of the 
Iowa , thirty-six thousand dollars.” 

Admiral Mason. The Iowa has been in commission between nine 
and ten years, during which time no material changes in her battery 
have been made. She is at present in about the same condition as 
regards battery as were the Massachusetts and Oregon before it was 
decided to modernize their batteries. The Iowa will doubtless be 
considered as an effective unit of the fleet for several years to come, 
and should be maintained in an efficient condition so far as her bat¬ 
tery is concerned. To rearm her with 12-inch 45-caliber and 8-inch 
45-caliber guns in balanced turrets (her 12-inch turrets are already 
of this type) would involve an additional expenditure of about 
$940,000, which is not believed to be warranted. The expenditure of 
the sum estimated for will put her as far ahead of the Indiana class 
as she was originally. 

What it is intended to do in ordnance is to furnish modern sights 
for 12-inch and 8-inch turrets, new sighting hoods, electric ammuni¬ 
tion hoists, and electric elevating gear. 1 think it is necessary. I 
think those ships, if we do not modernize them pretty soon, will go 
into the first reserve. 

Mr. Roberts. And then into the scrap heap? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ For modernizing the batteries of 
the Monterey and the Monadnock , twenty thousand dollars.” What 
about that? 

Admiral Mason. They are old monitors. These vessels are main¬ 
tained on the Asiatic Station, and in time of war would doubtless be 
depended on for the defense of some port in the Philippines. It is 
extremely desirable that they be made as efficient as possible. 

This amount will equip these vessels with new sights, new sighting 
hoods, and modification of turret gear. 

Mr. Butler. What kind of guns have they ? 

Admiral Mason. Medium-power modern guns. 

Mr. Butler. Effective guns for armored purposes? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; effective guns. 

Mr. Butler. Are they not ready for the scrap heap? 

Admiral Mason. With these modifications they will last for some 
time. They will probably never go to sea again. But they are very 
good floating forts or batteries for the Philippines. I should say 
that would be a good investment, that $20,000. 

The Chairman. How about this next provision? 

For providing new turret sights for the four monitors of the Arkansas class, 
sixteen thousand dollars. 

Admiral Mason. That is the same thing, except that these are 
monitors of the Arkansas class. These vessels are modern in all 
respects except their turret sights, and their fighting value js much 
below what it could be made by the expenditure of this sum of money. 

Turret sights cost about $2,000 per gun. 


48 


The Chairman. The next is— 

New battery for the Brooklyn , one hundred and seventy-seven thousand two 
hundred dollars. 

Admiral Mason. The Brooklyn is an armored cruiser, still very 
good. 

Congress has, in two appropriations, provided more than this sum 
for new guns and armor for the New York; the Brooklyn has been in 
commission more than ten years and, to be made effective, should be 
equipped with a more modern battery; if so equipped she would 
again become the equal or superior of the New York. To equip her 
with 8-inch 45 caliber guns in balanced turrets would require an ad¬ 
ditional expenditure of $540,000 which, as in the case of the Iowa , is 
not considered advisable nor warranted, considering the cost that 
would be involved under other bureaus. 

It is intended to furnish this vessel with a new 5-inch battery, new 
sights for turret guns, and modify turret ammunition hoists and 
mounts. 

The Chairman. Has she ever had anything done to her guns since 
she was built ? 

Admiral Mason. I think not, except that during the Spanish war 
the 5-inch mounts were rendered useless, and they were replaced. 

Mr. Butler. Have you any objection to telling us why it is not 
advisable to thoroughly modernize the Brooklyn? Just for the in¬ 
formation will you tell us that? It will cost, you say, five or six 
hundred thousand dollars to modernize her ? 

Admiral Mason. In ordnance alone. 

Mr. Butler. In ordnance alone ? If you brought her up to a first- 
class ship ? 

Admiral Mason. Work has to be done under Steam Engineering 
and Construction and Repair, and other bureaus. That $500,000 in 
ordnance would mean probably three times as much in construction, 
and would require additional expenditures in equipment. The ship 
would then be but little better than as if the plan estimated for is 
carried out, and the work would take so long that the vessel would be 
unavailable for use for three or four years. The proposed work can 
be done in a year or less. 

Mr. Roberts. Is she not now being thoroughly overhauled at the 
New York yard? 

Admiral Mason. No; she is in ordinary or reserve at League 
Island. 

Mr. Roberts. The New York is being overhauled? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; the New York is being overhauled. That 
was authorized by Congress. We expect to put the Brooklyn in 
pretty near as good condition as the New York at very much less ex¬ 
pense. The changes in the New York were more extensive, as she, 
though not much older than the Brooklyn , was greatly inferior to 
her as to turrets and turret gun mounts. Half measures would have 
been of no use in her case. 

Mr. Roberts. Steam engineering is tearing her all to pieces now. 

Admiral Mason. Yes. Being an older ship than the Brooklyn , she 
needs more repairs. 

Mr. Butler. If you put these new guns and improvements on the 
Brooklyn , would she then go in the battle line of the Navy? 


49 


Admiral Mason. No; she is an armored cruiser. 

Mr. Butler. Do you remember when she was built? 

Admiral Mason. I en or twelve years ago. She was completed in 
18'96. F 


She is an excellent ship, and although not as powerful as the present 
armored cruisers by any means, either as regards battery or protec¬ 
tion, the A ew } ork and Brooklyn still are speedy, 22-knot vessels, 
and will put in a good many years' service as armored cruisers yet. 

Mr. Butler. A modern armored cruiser would cost something like 
$5,000,000? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Butler. And would it not be wise to modernize the Brooklyn , 
if it conld be done for $2,000,000? 

Admiral Mason. I don t think so, because after commencing work 
you would probably find that it would cost a good deal more and it 
would take a long time. Her boilers, of course, will not last for¬ 
ever, and they would require replacing, and her engines would finally 
wear out. It is a good deal better to let her go this way and last ten 
years longer. 

Mr. Bin l'ler. In four or five years you would expect the Brooklyn 
to be ready for the reserve basin, would you not, or for the retire¬ 
ment list? 

Admiral Mason. In five years from now I would say the Brook¬ 
lyn should probably go on the first reserve list. That is not the re¬ 
tired list, but laid up for use in an emergency. 

Mr. Butler. She has been a good ship. 

The Chairman. How about this next item— 


For completing the work of modifying four-inch forty-caliber mounts, and 
providing new sigths; and for modifying five-inch forty-caliber mounts, and 
providing new sights for same, two hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars. 

Admiral Mason. The estimates for 1907 include an item of $320,- 
000 for these purposes, but Congress did not appropriate. Such of 
the work as was absolutely necessary for fitting out ships on recom¬ 
missioning has been done out of current appropriations as a part of 
the general work of the Bureau. The estimates now submitted 
cover work which will be necessary to fit for recommissioning all 
vessels carrying guns and mounts of the character mentioned. 

The Chairman. Does that cover it all ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; I think so. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

For fire-control instruments for nineteen battle ships and twelve armored 
cruisers; for fire-control instruments for four monitors and twenty-five cruis¬ 
ers, five hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars. 

Is this something new? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; this comes from the target practice. The 
present system installed in the vessels was designed to fulfill the re¬ 
quirements of the slow rate of fire used a few years ago. 

Experience at target practice indicates that rapid hitting is pos¬ 
sible, and information from abroad indicates that rapid hitting is 
necessary. 

We have improved the guns, accessories, mounts, and ammuni¬ 
tion until each gun can fire rapidly and accurately; but the batteries 
as a whole are inefficient, because we can not transmit rapidly to 


n p—07- 


4 



50 


the guns the information absolutely necessary to insure accuracy, 
nor is the system sufficient to permit of control of rapid fire. 

The installation of a new system is necessary before we can reap 
any commensurate benefit in battle efficiency from the earnest work 
with the guns in the last few years. The ships will not be ready 
for action until an improved system is installed. 

The Chairman. Do you want to do that all at once—in one year— 
or can you cut that down? 

Admiral Mason. No, sir; that ought to be done at once. 

The Chairman. We have lived all these years without them. 

Admiral Mason. Yes; and we went along for a long time without 
hitting the target, too. All the nations abroad are doing this. I 
think we surely ought to have this appropriation. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

For the manufacture, purchase, repair, and maintenance of a reserve stock 
of mines and mine appliances, two hundred thousand dollars. 

Admiral Mason. That is a new item. 

The mine outfits of battle ships and armored cruisers are complete 
and the torpedo station is prepared to furnish the mine outfits to 
the new ships as the}^ go into commission. 

In order to carry out the recommendation of the General Board, 
the Bureau has included in its estimates the amount necessary to 
manufacture and prepare 500 reserve mines in addition to those 
carried by the ships. 

Our present outfit of mines consists of 13 for each battle ship 
and armored cruiser, and these mines are carried on board for 
self-protection—that is, when forced to anchor in the vicinity of an 
enemy for coaling or making repairs the ship or fleet can send out 
its mines and lie secure behind them. Offensive mines, such as were 
used by the Japanese for blockading Port Arthur, or a large supply 
of defensive mines for advanced bases we have not on hand. 

It has been calculated that we should have at least 2,500 mines 
for use in war, and this item is based on the supposition that we 
should accumulate that number in five years, at the rate of 500 per 
year. 

That is only getting ready for the emergency. 

The Chairman. Do you regard that as important this year? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; it is regarded as very important. 

The Chairman. We would like to have you put down in the 
hearings those things in the line of improvements which you regard 
as most important; indicate in the order of importance all of these 
items. 

Admiral Mason. Very well. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

For lining four twelverinch Mark III guns; for replacing one hundred three- 
inch Mark ill breech plugs: for replacing Mark IX locks; for gas ejectors for 
seven-inch, six-inch, and five-inch guns; for fifty air compressors, and for re¬ 
pairs and changes to guns and mounts, one hundred and fifty-five thousand 
dollars. 

Why could not that be done under your appropriation for ord¬ 
nance and ordnance stores? 

Admiral Mason. It could if you would increase that appropriation 
enough for that. The necessity for this appropriation is as follows: 
The erosion of guns at a high pressure and with the large charges of 


51 


powder continues, making necessary the relining of the larger cali- 
bered guns after the firing of comparatively a few rounds. No 
effective wav of stopping it has been discovered, but various methods 
are being tried. All metals so far subjected to erosive tests show 
such erosion. 

The apparently poisonous effect of smokeless-powder gases in 
inclosed spaces has rendered necessary some method of gas ejection 
for medium-caliber guns. Blowbacks from these guns are infrequent 
when the present combined sponge and rammer is used, but neverthe¬ 
less the gas makes its way into the gun spaces, rendering them unin¬ 
habitable after a brief period. Loaders are frequently overcome by 
these gases. There is also possible danger of a spark igniting them 
when they are collected in any inclosed space, with danger to per¬ 
sonnel and inflammables as well as ammunition. 

The excessive use of small breech mechanisms which fire very 
quickly and require a great deal of exercise to get the best results in 
the present systems of target-practice competition, and as a prerequi¬ 
site to good battle and war conditions, has caused much wear of the 
same, and a number of 3-inch breechblocks will have to be replaced. 
This is a matter which can be provided for in future by the supply 
at first of spare breechblocks for guns subjected to such excessive 
work, so far as the metal is concerned, but no reserve was supplied 
when the guns were built, and it should be now. 

The approximate expenditures under this appropriation are item¬ 
ized as follows: 


Reline four 12-inch guns, at $0,000 each_$3G, 000 

Replace 100 3-inch breechblocks_ 6, 000 

Replace 180 Mark IV locks_ 10, 000 

400 gas ejectors, intermediate battery_ 60, 000 

Air compressors, 50 at $2G0_ 13, 000 

Repairs and changes to guns and mounts_ 30, 000 


Total _ 155,000 


Mr. Butler. Have you anything additional to tell us since your last 
hearing in regard to the effect on these guns of firing them occasion¬ 
ally in target practice? 

Admiral Mason. No; except we know that they erode even more 
than we expected with the high velocities. 

Mr. Butler. I understand that the men can be trained in target 
practice just as effectively and accurately by using a less charge. 

Admiral Mason. Yes; the men can be; but we can not be as sure 
of what the material is going to do. 

The Chairman. How about this next item: 

For one hundred eighteen-inch torpedoes; converting sixteen destroyers to 
modern boats; converting eleven three and fifty-five one hundredths meter 
boats to five-meter boats, six hundred and sixteen thousand dollars. 

Admiral Mason. This whole torpedo question is a burning one. 
It is worse now than the reserve ammunition was. We have not 
even enough torpedoes to supply our ships, and this estimate is to 
supply and overcome deficiencies actually existing by the purchase of 
100 18-inch torpedoes, the converting of 16 destroyers to use these new 
torpedoes, and the converting of 11 of the larger torpedo boats to use 
5-meter torpedoes of the type now used by the destroyers. We have 
now in service 16 destroyers, 15 torpedo boats, 8 battle ships, and 1 










52 


submarine that use 5 m. bv 45 cm. torpedoes. These ships require 
for their full. armament according to existing allowances 142 tor 1 
pedoes. We have for the supply of these ships only 100 torpedoes 
of the type they use. The shortage is, therefore, 42 5-meter tor¬ 
pedoes, which means that we are short of our full supply of this type 
the equipment for 10 destroyers. A similar condition exists as re¬ 
gards the supply of short torpedoes (3.55 m. by 45 cm.). We have 
3 battle ships, 11 large torpedo boats, and 7 submarines that use the 
short torpedo and these vessels require 86 torpedoes. Eliminating 
the obsolete torpedoes of this size, which are not fit for use in war, 
we have 62 torpedoes for the supply of these vessels. This is a short¬ 
age of 24 torpedoes, which is a supply for 6 of the larger torpedo 
iboats. 

It is designed to remedy the present situation by the purchase of 
100 5 m. by 45 cm. torpedoes. This new torpedo, however, requires a 
greater pressure of air than the present air plants of the destroyers 
can supply, so to use them the destroyers will need new compressors, 
and by “ converting to modern boats ” is meant the installation of 
new air plants. 

If this is done we will then have an excess of the old type of 5 m. 
torpedoes, and to use these, and at the same time relieve the shortage 
in short torpedoes, it is desirable to change the 11 larger boats 
(which are as large as the smaller foreign destroyers), so as to fit them 
to use the long torpedo. This is a step toward fitting these boats for 
the high-powered torpedoes, which will ultimately become necessary 
ivhen the older type of torpedoes is exhausted. The material taken 
out of the destroyers will not be scrapped, but can go into reserve for 
the torpedo boats and the tubes of the boats will be lengthened, not 
replaced. 

Mr. Butler. How long does it take to manufacture the torpedoes? 

Admiral Mason. The Bliss company can manufacture 100 a year 
with their present equipment. We hope to be able to manufacture 
100 a year when Congress gives us a torpedo factory at Newport, 
which we are asking for this time. Of course the factories can be 
increased in size. Just at present we are not getting along as fast, 
because Bliss is frozen up. 

The Chairman. How many concerns are manufacturing torpedoes? 

Admiral Mason. In this country? 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Admiral Mason. Only one. The E. W. Bliss Company has con¬ 
trol of the situation. That is why we want a torpedo factory. 

The Chairman. Has that company a capacity of 100 a year? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; it has a capacity of at least 100. 

Mr. Roberts. Before you get away from that, I wanted to under¬ 
stand this, “ Converting eleven three and fifty-five one-hundredths 
meter boats to five-meter boats.” What do these dimensions mean? 

Admiral Mason. They are boats that fire 3.55-meter torpedoes—the 
short torpedoes. 

Mr. Roberts. That is the size of the torpedoes that they fire? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; they were the old original boats that fired 
the short torpedoes. We have only a few of those torpedoes. 

Mr. Roberts. That does not relate to the measurement of the boats 
at all? 

Admiral Mason. No; to the torpedo used and tubes mi board. 


53 


The Chairman. The next is— 

For twelve wrecking outfits; repairs and alterations to torpedoes and torpedo 
gear, including sights, training gear, new tube parts, and so forth, and to 
replace torpedoes expended in practice, seven hundred and sixty-six thousand 
dollars. 

Admiral Mason. That is a mistake. That should be $150,000. 

I he appropriation should read: “For twelve wrecking outfits; 
repairs and alterations to torpedoes and torpedo gear, including 
sights, training gear, new tube parts, etc., and to replace torpedoes 
expended in practice, $150,000," instead of $766,000. 

Briefly, the reasons are as follows: 

It is desired to add to the stations where wrecking outfits are 
kept, and also to keep a larger supply than heretofore of wrecking 
material at New York, Norfolk, and Boston. This will not be ex¬ 
pended in one year, but should be provided and kept for an emer¬ 
gency. There should be an appropriation for this outside of the 
routine ordnance and ordnance stores. 

Sights and training gears should be put on the tubes of all sea¬ 
going torpedo craft. This will require approximately $25,000 for 
the destroyers and larger boats—45 tubes in all. 

Torpedoes in the past have been considered to a large extent in¬ 
destructible, but it has been found that 25 or 30 are lost, worn out, 
or damaged during the year. The increase in efficiency of the tor¬ 
pedo service will cut down the loss, but the increased number of 
runs will increase the number of worn-out torpedoes. This is an 
allowance of loss of about 6 per cent on the total allowance of the 
Navy, and is considered a very small allowance. 

The committee’s attention is called to the clerical error in the 
amount asked for under this appropriation, which should be $150,000, 
instead of $766,000. 

This is itemized as follows: 


12 wrecking outfits_$25, 000 

Repairs and alterations to torpedoes and torpedo gear, etc_ 25, 000 

Replacing loss of torpedoes (20 per year)_ 100,000 


Total _ 150,000 


One wrecking outfit consists of 12 mines (32 pounds gun cotton 
each) and necessary wires, batteries, etc., about $2,000. 

Mr. Huberts. What are those wrecking outfits? What is the use 
of them? 

Admiral Mason. By direction of the Department w T e have to keep 
in stock wrecking outfits for the blowing up of derelicts along the 
coast for the protection of commerce. 

Mr. Roberts. What are those outfits, boats or ships? 

Admiral Mason. A wrecking outfit consists of 12 mines, 4,000 feet 
of armored cable, a hand electric generator, tools, chemicals, and elec¬ 
trical testing instruments for care and test of outfit. When the De¬ 
partment is informed that there is a derelict on the coast menacing 
navigation the nearest available man-of-war or auxiliary is sent to 
the nearest yard and gets an outfit and goes out and destroys the 
wreck. 

Mr. Roberts. We have authorized a derelict destroyer in the Rev¬ 
enue-Cutter Service. She is now being built. When that is in opera¬ 
tion will not that do away with the necessity of the Navy Depart¬ 
ment doing this work ? 







54 


Admiral Mason. If she can look out for all the wrecks along the 
coast. The Navy will be called on for mines anyway; we gave a 
revenue cutter an outfit last week. The Navy Department will prob¬ 
ably be called upon for ships also. We have had as many as three 
ships out after wrecks at once during the past year. We now keep 
a wrecking outfit on hand at Boston, Newport, New 1 ork, Norfolk, 
Key West, Port Royal, Pensacola, Mare Island, Puget Sound, and 
Cavite. 

It has been found that one outfit is not sufficient, especially on the 
east coast of the United States, and it is proposed to add to the pres¬ 
ent equipment so as to provide wrecking outfits as follows: Boston, 2; 
Newport, 6 (supply station) ; New York, 3; Norfolk, 3; Key West, 1; 
Port Royal, 1; Pensacola, 1; Mare Island, 2; Puget Sound, 2; Cavite, 1. 

Mr. Roberts. How many of those do you use in a year? 

Admiral Mason. We have used, I guess, about 10 or 12 in the last 
year. It is difficult to say j ust how many will be used, but one heavy 
gale on the coast may cail for six or eight outfits at once. 

It must be understood, however, that the explosives and mine cases 
only are expended. Once provided, the outfits can be kept up very 
cheaply. 

The Chairman. The next is: 

Reserve guns for auxiliary cruisers: For reserve guns for auxiliary cruisers, 
five hundred thousand dollars. 

Can we cut that appropriation down ? 

Admiral Mason. I do not think we got any last year. 

Mr. Roberts. There is a mistake here in the bill. The amount is 
carried out in figures as only $50,000. 

Admiral Mason. We did not get that last year. That should be 
“ For reserve guns for auxiliary cruisers, $500,000.” This is for re¬ 
pairing, modernizing, and fitting with modern sights a considerable 
number of 4 and 5 inch 40-caliber guns and mounts, and for procur¬ 
ing an additional number of new guns and mounts. The total 
amount appropriated under this head up to the year 1905-6 was 
$2,075,000. The Bureau did not estimate for any sum for the present 
fiscal year. 

It is now believed to be very necessary to obtain additional funds, 
as there are on hand a considerable number of guns and mounts of 
more or less obsolete types which are still perfectly serviceable, but 
are not efficient, owing to their not being modernized, and the Bureau 
can not out of its regular appropriations perform the work of re¬ 
pairing, modernizing, and fitting with modern sights the guns and 
mounts above mentioned, and this estimate is to cover such work, 
which, if done, will secure a reserve of modernized guns and mounts, 
as well as for procuring an additional number of new guns and 
mounts to be available for use in time of war. 

This is itemized as follows: 


Fifty 3-inch 50-caliber guns, Mark V, with mounts and sights, at 

$5,500-- $275,000 

Fifty-five 4-inch mounts for 40-caliber guns to be modernized and fitted 

with yoke sights- 105, 000 

Sixty mounts for 5-inch 40-caliber guns to be modernized and fitted 
with modern sights- 126, 000 


Total-1_ 506, 000 












There is a small available balance under this appropriation not vet 
obligated. 

The Chairman. What was it last year? 

Mr. Butler. Did we make this appropriation last year? 

Admiral Mason. No, sir. 

The Clerk of the Committee. This is a new item. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Reserve ammunition.” 

Admiral Mason. Reserve ammunition, $4,000,000. 

Last year this title was u Reserve powder and shell.” It has been 
changed to “ Reserve ammunition ” because the components of am¬ 
munition other than powder and shell, particularly cartridge cases 
and powder tanks, are just as necessary as the powder and shell here¬ 
tofore appropriated for. 

There is now no appropriation under which a reserve of cartridge 
cases and powder tanks can be accumulated. As a result, there is 
now no reserve of these necessary articles, except for the older 
calibers. 

As stated in last year’s estimates, it seems imperative that there 
should be acquired at the earliest date practicable a reserve supply of 
ammunition sufficient to refill the main battery magazines of the fleet 
twice and the secondary battery magazines once. This is because a 
modern battle ship at her maximum rate of gun fire will exhaust the 
magazines supplying her main battery in about half an hour, and her 
secondary battery ammunition will not last much longer. That the 
accumulation of this reserve should be undertaken at once is evi¬ 
denced by the fact that the manufacture of shell of sufficient merit 
to meet the Bureau’s requirements has, in many instances, taken from 
two to three years. 

The expenditures which would be required to provide a reserve of 
the proportions stated above are so great that it is realized that a 
sufficient reserve to fill the magazines of the fleet once is all that can 
now be attempted. It was estimated last year that $9,126,526 would 
be required to accumulate one reserve of ammunition. Toward this 
$2,000,000 was appropriated by the last Congress. 

At this rate of accumulation, the small reserve sufficient to fill the 
magazines of the fleet only once will not be completely appropriated 
for until the fiscal year 1910. 

The following is" an itemized statement of the probable expendi¬ 
tures under this appropriation: 


Smokeless powder__ 

Armor-piercing shells, mostly above 6-incli caliber- 

Powder tanks and cartridge cases (to accumulate 20 per cent of one 

reserve) - 

Fuzes --- 

Incidentals: Primers, bursting and ignition charges, distance pieces, 

etc _ 


$911, 200 
2. 600, 000 


868 . 000 
70. 000 

50, 000 


4, 000, 000 

Much difficulty is experienced in procuring armor-piercing shell 
that will meet the Navy’s severe requirements, and it takes some time 
to manufacture them. 

This appropriation will provide about two-thirds of one reserve 
for all vessels on the Navy list. 

Mr. Roberts. What do you say about the provision that “ no part 







56 

of this appropriation shall be expended for the purchase of shells or 
projectiles,” and so forth? 

Admiral Mason. I should prefer that it should go out. This was 
all discussed under a previous question. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

Reserve guns for ships of the Navy: Purchase and manufacture of reserve 
guns for ships of Navy, one million three hundred and ninety-six thousand five 
hundred dollars. 

Admiral Mason. Reserve guns for ships of the Navy. For reserve 
guns for ships of the Navy, $1,390,500. 

By direction of the Department in its indorsement of August 15, 
1905, and in accordance with a recommendation of the General 
Board, the Bureau in its last estimates submitted an item of $1,500,000. 
This was approved by the Department, but was reduced bv Congress 
to $750,000. 

This estimate is submitted for reserve guns for ships of the Navy 
based on the total number of high-power guns now afloat, down to 
and including the Idaho , a fair working reserve for the present 
being considered one-fourth of that number. The amount estimated 
should provide the following guns based on present Naval Gun Fac¬ 
tory prices, viz: Twelve 12-inch Mark V guns, two 10-inch Mark VII 
guns, two 8-inch Mark VI guns, two 7-inch Mark II guns, two 6-inch 
Mark VIII guns, seventy-five 3-inch Mark V guns and mounts. 

This appropriation is considered as absolutely necessary for the 
efficiency of the Navy. The manufacture of these guns must be 
undertaken at the earliest practicable moment in order to have them 
ready to replace guns while withdrawn from service for lining, and 
as this process is very slow the necessity is augmented. 

All vessels after the Idaho have their reserve guns estimated for 
under the appropriation “ Armor and armament,” and will be con¬ 
sidered a part of the armament of the vessel, the allowance for reserve 
being 25 per cent. 

The Chairman. We went into this fully last year. 

Mr. Butler. We had how much last year? 

The Chairman. Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 

Admiral Mason. We have obligated that, and the guns are being 
made. 

The Chairman. The next is— 

Torpedo station, Newport, Rhode Island: For labor, material, freight and 
express charges; general care of and repairs to grounds, buildings, and wharves; 
boats, instruction, instruments, tools, furniture, experiments, and general tor¬ 
pedo outfits, and new smokestack and flues for boilers, seventy thousand 
dollars. 

Admiral Mason. This appropriation has been itemized, as directed 
by the Department in its circular letter of September 7, 1906, as 
follows: 


For labor, material, freight and express charges___$ 39 , TOO 

General care of and repairs to grounds, buildings, and wharves_ 17 ’ 700 

Boats, instruction, instruments, tools, furniture, experiments, and gen¬ 
eral torpedo outfits_ ooo 


Total- 65, 000 


It is pointed out that the estimated amount set opposite each item 
as a possible expenditure is only approximate and liable to be in¬ 
creased or diminished by unforseen contingencies, and also that the 







57 


aggregate amount appropriated for several purposes mav be, in fact* 
differently distributed among them. 

This appropriation is the same as for a number of years past, and 
is for labor, material, maintenance, and the general routine expenses 
of the station, as detailed above. 

New smokestack for boilers, $5,000. 

The $5,000 additional is for a new smokestack for boilers. 

This new smokestack for boilers is to provide sufficient draft for 
the present boilers. The present smokestack was erected about 1874 
for a 50-horsepower locomotive boiler, and afterwards this boiler 
was removed and at intervals four other boilers installed, two of 80 
horsepower, one of 75 horsepower, and one of 100 horsepower. The 
original stack that was sufficient for the 50-horsepower boiler is en¬ 
tirely inadequate to take care of four boilers of combined 335 
horsepower, and this stack is also necessary to obtain the best and 
most economical work out of the boilers, whereby the efficiency of 
the plant will be materially increased. In case the appropriation 
asked for a torpedo factory, $155,000, at the torpedo station is 
passed, either this $5,000 can be omitted or the other decreased by 
$5,000, as by an error the smokestack was included in both. This is 
absolutely necessary, however. 

For reserve torpedoes and appliances, $500,000. 

The Bureau in its last estimates submitted an item of $100,000 
under this head, which was disallowed by the Department. 

There exists no reserve of torpedoes, a situation which, as long as 
it lasts, means that the torpedo fleet is not prepared for war. The 
Bureau considers that the minimum reserve should be an allowance 
for the fleet, approximately, of 300 18-inch and 320 21-inch torpedoes. 
The Bureau recommends, as a step toward this minimum, the man¬ 
ufacture of 100 18-inch torpedoes at the torpedo station. 

The reason for this large increase in the estimate is due to the fact 
that for nearly five years nothing was done in the Navy with regard 
to torpedoes and appliances. Then the Bureau was suddenly called 
on to not only care for a most extensive future schedule, but also to 
cover the omissions of the past, and this within the space of a short 
time. The fiscal year 1906-7 should see the completion of all ships 
now authorized except the New Hampshire , North Carolina , Mon¬ 
tana, and three scout cruisers, and the South Carolina and Michigan , 
and the three destroyers, the modernizing of all older vessels that are 
worthy of it. and the establishment of sufficient reserves to put this 
branch on an efficient war basis. This latter must be done in addition 
to the regular yearly maintenance, which is growing rapidly in pro¬ 
portion to the growth of the fleet. Little beyond experimental 
work has been done so far. The real expenditure must be between 
this date and the end of the fiscal year 1907. 

The present torpedo situation is as follows: 


Needed for present fleet: 

5 m. by 21 inches_312 

5 m. by 18 inches, submerged- 66 

5 m. by 18 inches, above water- 148 

3.55 m. by 18 inches, above water-,- 80 


Total needed 


606 






58 


On hand and ordered: 

5 m. by 21 inches_ 300 

5 m. by 18 inches submerged_— 60 

5 m. by 18 inches above water_ 150 

3.55 m. by 18 inches above water_ 60 


Total _ 570 

Ten years hence we shall need: 

For present vessels_ 600 

For (probably) 10 new battle ships_ 160 

For (probably) 10 new scouts_ 80 

For (probably) 20 new destroyers_ 120 


Total torpedoes_ 960 

It may be taken for granted from experience that none of the torpedoes 

now in existence or building will last ten years, so making up shortage. 36 


We shall need to build, torpedoes___ 996 

and a reserve should duplicate this__ 996 


Torpedoes (total required)_ 1,992 


and we should order, therefore, 200 a year and have the facilities for 
building them. 

With the present vessels we lost at least 20 torpedoes a year. The 
torpedoes we have will not last forever, and we are having torpedo 
target practice just the same as any other practice. 

Mr. Butler. You mean that you lose them by exploding them? 

Admiral Mason. They are lost by breaking up or sinking or run¬ 
ning into the mud, so that they can not be found. These torpedoes 
are automobile, and if they run 4,000 yards and then happen to strike 
something or sink at the end of the run it is like hunting for .a needle 
in a haystack to look for them, although we do it with a diver or by 
dragging or grappling. 

The Chairman. How much do they cost now ? 

Admiral Mason. We have agreed to pay $7,100 each for the 300 
21-inch contracted for with the E. W. Bliss* Company. 

The Chairman. Do you want to enter upon the manufacture of 
them ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. To build a plant? 

Admiral Mason. We want to build a plant at the torpedo station 
to have a capacity of about 100 torpedoes a year to be manufac¬ 
tured. 

Mr. Butler. How much will that plant cost us ? 

Admiral Mason. The estimates are as follows. 

Mr. Butler. Just give us the sum total, Admiral. 

Admiral Mason. It is $155,000. 

The Chairman. That is for building and machinery? 

Admiral Mason. Complete; yes, sir; for both. 

Mr. Butler. Then for an expenditure of $155,000 you can turn 
out 100 torpedoes a year that would cost how much ? 

Admiral Mason. It would cost about $500,000 to manufacture 100 
21-inch torpedoes. We will probablv have to pay a royalty. That 
has not been settled yet. 

Mr. Butler. How much royalty ? 

Admiral Mason. The inventor asks $750, but I do not think we 
should pay him as much; he ought not to be paid more than $500 at 
the most. 



















59 


Mr. Butler. Did you estimate how much those torpedoes would 
cost us, to construct them— those 100 torpedoes? 

Admiral Mason. The torpedo station has just sent in an estimate 
of $3,500 for each 21-inch torpedo, exclusive of the percentage on 
the plant, which will be between 30 per cent and 40 per cent. I 
would say that $5,000 each would be a fair estimate of the cost per 
torpedo. 

Mr. Roberts. Does that include the royalty ? 

Admiral Mason. No, sir. 

Mr. Butler. Then we would be saving about $1,500 to $2,000 
apiece on the torpedo.es? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; approximately. 

Mr. Butler. What experience have you had in the manufacture of 
torpedoes ? 

Admiral Mason. We have not actually built any torpedoes at the 
torpedo station, but have had extensive experience in the manufac¬ 
ture of practically all parts, in assembling, and in repairs. 

Mr. Butler. Your figure of $5,000 includes the labor and mate¬ 
rial that you would put in, and the percentage on the plant? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

The Chairman . You have never made any detailed estimate or re¬ 
port of what might be called the cost of this, have you ? 

Admiral Mason. The cost of the torpedo itself? 

The Chairman. Yes; or what you could manufacture them for? 

Admiral Mason. The torpedo-station estimate was based on the 
cost of the individual parts. 

The Chairman. What do they cost abroad ? 

Admiral Mason. We do not know what the 21-inch torpedo costs 
abroad. For that matter, I don’t think they have a 21-inch torpedo 
abroad. The Whitehead torpedo is in general use abroad. 

Mr. Roberts. Are these Whitehead torpedoes which are made by 
Bliss? 

Admiral Mason. No. These are the Bliss-Lea vitt—entirely dif¬ 
ferent from the Whitehead. 

Mr. Roberts. Can you buy the Bliss-Lea vitt abroad? 

Admiral Mason. No. 

Mr. Roberts. Are they very much more effective weapons? 

Admiral Mason. Ours? 

Mr. Roberts. The Bliss-Lea vitt. 

Admiral Mason. I think so. The WTiitehead torpedo has usually 
a three or four cylinder Brotherhood engine, worked by compressed 
air in the cylinder, and the Bliss company has a turbine, which in¬ 
creases the range and speed for the same amount of air, and we have 
improved on this at the torpedo station by balancing the turbine and 
increasing the speed and efficiency about 10 per cent more—at least 
we hope to do it when we get to making them regularly. 

Mr. Roberts. How much of an increase of speed do they get by the 
turbines over the Brotherhood engine—that is, how much per di¬ 
ameter? 

Admiral Mason. About 3 knots on a range of 3,500 yards. There 
are reports of a Whitehead equal to the Bliss-Leavitt in performance. 

Mr. Roberts. I understood you to say that by using the turbines 
they got increased speed and greater range of action? 


60 


Admiral Mason. They get a greater range—that is, the same 
amount of air will last longer with the turbine. What I mean is 
that the efficiency of the torpedo is increased. 

Mr. Roberts. It keeps up its speed and runs farther with the tur¬ 
bine engine than with the Brotherhood engine ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. It has less weight, and the air has a more 
efficient action. The turbine also possesses the advantage of sim¬ 
plicity over the reciprocating engine. 

Mr. Roberts. By the improvements you have made at the torpedo 
station you get 10 per cent increase in speed, or range, or both ? 

Admiral Mason. In range at the same speed and in speed at the 
same range. 

Mr. Roberts. What speed do these torpedoes make now ? Take the 
21-inch; what speed do they make ? 

Admiral Mason. The contract speed is 26 knots for 3,500 yards. 
The Bliss company has not been able to do it yet, but obtain 27 knots 
for 3,000 yards. The other torpedo I spoke of, the 5-meter 18-inch 
torpedo which we use in armored cruisers and destroyers, the con¬ 
tract speed is 29 knots for 2,000 yards. 

Mr. Roberts. More speed, but a shorter range ? 

Admiral Mason. A shorter range, of course. You put on more 
power and use up the air quicker. The torpedo carries its own mo¬ 
tive power. 

Mr. Roberts. Three thousand yards is nearly a mile and a half. 

Admiral Mason. The other torpedo has a speed of 35 knots with 
a 1,200-yards range. 

Mr. Roberts. Thirty-five knots at 1,200 yards ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Roberts. That is over a half a mile. 

Mr. Kitchin. Do you know whether they had at Newport three 
years and a half ago these various kinds of torpedoes? 

Admiral Mason. I am sure that you did not see any of the turbine 
torpedoes, because the first ones have just been completed. 

Mr. Kitchin. So that this $7,000 torpedo is a new one ? 

Admiral Mason. That is a new one. 

Mr. Roberts. That is the 21-inch? 

Admiral Mason. Yes, sir. That contract was just being made 
when I became chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. 

The Chairman. This whole matter could go over for the year— 
that is, the matter of building the torpedo factory ? 

Admiral Mason. No, sir; I think the torpedo question is even more 
important than the question of reserve ammunition and reserve guns. 
The torpedo question went over last year and has been passed over 
year by year for several years. We are now unable to supply tor¬ 
pedoes for even our small number of torpedo vessels, and when I con¬ 
sider the possible consequences I can not describe our condition in 
regard to torpedoes as anything but deplorable. It is an absolute 
necessity, if ive are to be prepared for Avar, to get torpedoes, for if 
our torpedo boats can only make one attack (and all of them can not 
do that now), they will become useless as fighting machines soon after 
the opening of war. The effect of procrastination in preparation for 
war has recently been so conspicuously shown that we who are espe¬ 
cially charged with the preparation of the Navy feel that it is our 
duty to impress that branch of the GoA^ernment Avhich allots the 


61 


money with the clanger of such a policy. All our information indi¬ 
cates that other nations are not procrastinating. Great Britain, 
France, Japan, and Russia have government torpedo factories; Ger¬ 
many has one so much under government control as to be practically 
a government factory, while the Whitehead Company, at its two fac¬ 
tories,- in Austria and England, is turning out over 1,000 torpedoes a 
year, most of which go to these larger powers. Our only source of 
supply is one company that manufactures torpedoes as a secondary 
product, with a capacity of 100 per year and whose work is not alto¬ 
gether satisfactory. In my opinion the situation is fraught with dan¬ 
ger, and I think that we can not get to work too soon to provide the 
means to supply our needs. 

The Chairman. Why did you not get this first, then, if it was 
more important than the reserve-powder business? 

Admiral Mason. There are several reasons. First, we did not 
realize it before the situation was upon us as we do now, and, sec¬ 
ondly, we had not developed the torpedo as we have now, and there¬ 
fore were not prepared to ask to be allowed to go ahead and build 
torpedoes. The experience of the past year, however, has been con¬ 
vincing that, as far as ingenuity and workmanship are concerned, we 
can produce good torpedoes, and we ask the Congress to give us the 
tools to work with. 

Mr. Roberts. Which, in your judgment, is the more desirable tor¬ 
pedo, the 18-inch torpedo with the higher speed at ‘2,000-yard range 
or the 21-inch with its lower speed and 3,500-yard range? Which of 
those two would you think the more desirable torpedo? 

Admiral Mason. We have different uses for the different torpe¬ 
does. 

The conditions under which the heavy ship will presumably use 
her torpedoes are essentially different from those under which tor¬ 
pedo craft are designed to work. Battle-ship action will presumably 
take place in the daytime, torpedo-boat attacks at night. Generally 
speaking, the difference between battle-ship tactics and torpedo-boat 
tactics is that the battle ship aims to keep and kill the enemy at a dis¬ 
tance and the torpedo boat aims to get as close as possible in order to 
kill. The torpedo from a battle ship is fired when reasonable accu¬ 
racy in estimation of the enemy’s course and speed obtains so that it 
is not so necessary to provide means for overcoming the effect of 
errors in this estimation as it is on a torpedo boat working in the 
dark where it is necessary to nullify with a high speed unavoidable 
errors in estimation. The range of visibility also on a good torpedo 
boat is limited at night to about 1,200 yards, so that would seem a 
good arbitrary distance to fix for the range of the torpedo and take 
advantage of the high speed possible. 

Mr. Roberts. So that you want to continue to have both types of 
torpedoes? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Roberts. Can the 21-inch long-range torpedo be keyed up to 
the higher speed for a short range ? You spoke of a range of a 
thousand yards. 

Admiral Mason. That we have not tried, but it is reasonable to 
suppose that it can. 

Mr. Roberts. You have not experimented with that? 

Admiral Mason. No. That is why we want a torpedo factory of 


62 


our own, so that we will not be in the hands of any one company 
which will not make experiments along certain lines which do not 
suit their business. 

Mr. Butler. Who invented this torpedo that you speak of? 

Admiral Mason. The Bliss-Leavitt torpedo? 

Mr. Butler. Yes. 

Admiral Mason. That is the invention of Mr. Leavitt. I think 
he is one of the firm now of the E. W. Bliss Company. 

Mr. Butler. Is he a civilian? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Butler. He never belonged to the Navy? 

Admiral Mason. No, sir; but he has been in the business ever since 
he was a young man. 

Mr. Butler. Our naval officers do not develop any inventions, do 
they ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes; they often do. We have an inventor, 
Lieutenant-Commander Davison, an officer at the torpedo station, 
who has invented this balanced turbine. This is so valuable that 
the Bureau has directed him to take out a patent on it, the Government 
paying all expenses, the patent, of course, being assigned to the Gov¬ 
ernment. 

Mr. Egberts. Are not some of these appliances for the sighting of 
guns the inventions of naval officers? 

Admiral Mason. All of them are. They are inventions of officers 
in their line of work. 

Mr. Roberts. Some of these improvements they are the real in¬ 
ventors of ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Torpedo station, Newport, Rhode 
Island, seventy thousand dollars.” There is an increase for “ new 
smokestack and flues for boilers ” of $5,000. 

Admiral Mason. They have gradually increased at that station. 
They started in with one boiler, and now, I think, they have four. 
The original stack is too small for the work. I think my previous 
statement covers all that. 

The Chairman. Could you not repair it? If you were allowed 
$65,000, as you were last year, could you not do that? 

Admiral Mason. Not very well. 

The Chairman. The next is, “Arming and equipping naval mili¬ 
tia.” That is the same as last year? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Roberts. On that point were there any suggestions made by 
the naval militia to increase that amount? 

Admiral Mason. Not that I know of. This appropriation is 
handled by the Assistant Secretary. It is only turned over to the 
Bureau of Ordnance to keep the run of it, that is all. We take 
cognizance, but we never make an expenditure without direction. 

Mr. Roberts. You would not know of any suggestions from the 
naval militia for an increase ? 

Admiral Mason. I would not. I called Secretary Bonaparte’s 
attention to it, and asked if Mr. Newberry had made any suggestions 
about increases, and I have received none. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Repairs, Bureau of Ordnance.” 
What is that for? 


Admiral Mason. u For necessary repairs to ordnance buildings, 
magazines, gun parks, boats, lighters, wharves, machinery, and other 
items of a like character, $50,000.” 

For a number of years the Bureau only received $15,000 per an¬ 
num under this head, but in 1892 it was increased to $30,000, and 
that sum has been appropriated each year since. In the Bureau’s last 
estimates it asked for $50,000, but the Department reduced it to 
$40,000 and Congress appropriated only $30,000. 

Owing to the increase in public work under this Bureau, it is be¬ 
lieved to be necessary to have a sufficient fund at its disposal for im¬ 
mediate repairs to buildings, etc., instead of waiting for special 
appropriations by Congress for the purpose, as has been the case on 
several occasions, buildings and other public works already damaged 
being neglected for a long time until money was available for repairs, 
the delay increasing the cost owing to deterioration. This is espe¬ 
cially urgent in the case of magazine buildings injured by explosions. 
The increase in this appropriation is very necessary. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Miscellaneous, Bureau of Ordnance.” 
You have cut that down $5,000. 

Admiral Mason. “ Contingent, Bureau of Ordnance, $20,000/' 

This appropriation for a number of years was comparatively small, 
but as the Navy increased in size the amount asked for and appro¬ 
priated had to be increased, until the year 1902, when this Bureau 
received $75,000, and that sum was appropriated each year until 1906, 
when, owing to the fact that all expenses for freight were transferred 
to the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, this Bureau only required 
$25,000. It is now thought that about $20,000 will suffice, and that 
amount has been asked for. 

This being entirely a contingent appropriation, the Bureau has not 
attempted to estimate probable expenditures for each separate item. 

The Chairman. Under the next item, u Civil establishment, Bu¬ 
reau of Ordnance,” you are asking for an increase in the pay of the 
ordnance clerk at the New York Navy-Yard; for a new clerk at the 
naval magazine, Iona Island, New York, at $1,000, and also for a 
clerk at the naval magazine, Fort Mifflin, Pa., at $1,000. 

Admiral Mason. The following is a detailed statement explaining 
the increases and the necessity for the new positions under this ap¬ 
propriation : 

CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT. 

Navy-yard, New York: Increase of pay of chief clerk from $1,400 to $1,500. 
This position now pays $1,400 per annum, and the Bureau has asked to have 
it increased to $1,500 per annum. The duties are very important, exacting, 
and constantly increasing. The ordnance department of this yard is the 
most important one on the Atlantic coast, thousands of dollars’ worth of 
stores being handled and accounted for annually. 

The Bureau believes that the salary now paid is inadequate for the services 
required and should be increased. 

Naval magazine, Iona Island. New York: The Bureau has estimated for 
one clerk at $1,000 per annum. 

There are now employed at this magazine four clerks, one at $3.52 per diem, 
and three at $2.48 per diem. 

This magazine is the principal one on the east coast, and it Supplies a 
great deal of the ammunition for vessels fitting out at eastern navy-yards, 
more than any other single magazine, and the clerical work has been steadily 
increasing with the growth of the Navy. It has been found that the clerical 
force is inadequate, and the Bureau has therefore recommended the addi¬ 
tional clerk, who is urgently needed. 


64 


Naval magazine, Fort Mifflin, Pa.: One clerk at $1,000 per annum. 

The amount of clerical work at this magazine makes it necessary that 
there should be a clerk permanently attached thereto, the one now employed 
at $3.28 per diem being a temporary appointment, and the transfer to the 
permanent roll would be at a reduction of $26.64 per annum. 

Naval Gun Factory, navy-yard, Washington, D. 0.: The Bureau has asked 
for an increase in the pay of the chief clerk of the Naval Gun Factory from 
$1,600 to $1,800. 

The present compensation is inadequate and not proportionate to the re¬ 
sponsibilities and duties required of the position. The position requires such 
competency as would make the incumbent more of a “civilian assistant” to 
the superintendent than a clerk. The present pay of $1,600 per annum was 
established in 1886. The force of employees in the gun factory at that time 
was 320. office force 7. Force at present 3,864, office force 78, exclusive of 
draftsmen. The present incumbent was appointed six years ago, and has had 
no increase since, although recommendations have been made from year to 
year for an increase to $2,000 per annum. 

Since the superintendent of the gun factory was made commandant of the 
navy-yard also the responsibility of the chief clerk has materially increased. 

The gun factory is a very large establishment, comparable with the Govern¬ 
ment Printing Office, or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and a glance 
at the salary lists of those places will at once show the inadequate sum paid 
to the chief clerk of the gun factory. 

Navy-yard, Norfolk, Va.: The Bureau has asked for an increase in the pay 
of the chief clerk of the Ordnance Department from $1,200 to $1,300. The 
Bureau is of the opinion that the compensation now paid is inadequate to the 
responsibilities of the position and the services rendered. In the past few 
years the work in the office has increased, at a very conservative estimate, at 
least 200 per cent, consequently increasing the duties and responsibilities. 

Naval magazine, St. Juliens Creek, Virginia: The Bureau has estimated for 
one clerk at $1,000 per annum. 

The services of a clerk are absolutely necessary to relieve the inspector of 
ordnance from such work and allow that officer more time for important duties 
in the field. 

The magazine is now a separate institution, employing over 90 men, and 
during the fiscal year just ended expended in labor over $1,400,000, involving 
a vast amount of clerical work and correspondence. 

There are now employed at this magazine two clerks at $2.80 per diem and 
one at $2.48 per diem. 

Naval magazine, Mare Island, California: The Bureau has estimated for 
one clerk at $1,000 per annum. 

The clerical force at this magazine is totally inadequate, there being only two 
clerks, one at $3.28 and one at $2.48 per diem, employed. It has been found 
absolutely impossible with this force to keep up the routine work, which has 
been accomplished only by the clerks working over hours, after voluntarily 
taking their work home with them. 

This magazine has the preparation and handling of practically all of the 
ammunition for the west coast, and also for the Asiatic Station, and the 
Bureau is of the opinion that it should be properly equipped with clerks. 

Navy-yard, Puget Sound, Washington: The Bureau has estimated for one 
clerk at $1,000 per annum. 

The clerical work in the ordnance department of the yard is performed by 
a special laborer (clerk) who receives $3.28 per diem. 

Additional clerical work will be necessitated by work of clearing, grading, 
building wharves, magazines, etc., on the 250 acres of land purchased for 
magazine purposes, as well as for the increasing ordnance work in the navy- 
yard. It is therefore requested that one clerk, at $1,000 per annum, be allowed 
to act as chief clerk in this department, instead of the special laborer at $3.28 
per diem. 

Naval station, Philippine Islands: The Bureau has estimated for one clerk at 
$1,400 per annum and one at $1,200 per annum. These two clerks are now car¬ 
ried on the labor roll under appropriation “ Ordnance and ordnance stores ” at 
$4.48 and $4 per diem, respectively, but it is thought better that they be car¬ 
ried under the regular appropriation “Civil establishment,” and as a matter 
of fact the transfer to that appropriation will be a slight reduction in salary. 


65 


The Chairman. What do you say about these two clerks, at Iona 
Island and Fort Mifflin? 

Admiral Mason. At the navy-yard, New York, there is an increase 
in the pay of the chief clerk from $1,400 to $1,500. This is one of 
the most important yards that we. have and the chief clerk in 
ordnance is only getting $1,400. He is an excellent man, and the 
place is worth $1,500. We asked for $1,600, but the Secretary cut it 
down to $1,500. 

Mr. Loudenslager. Is that more important than the Washington 
yard? 

Admiral Mason. No, sir. The chief clerk of the Washington 
navy-yard is the most important one. You will find a recommenda¬ 
tion for him also. 

The Chairman. Are these clerks now employed? 

Admiral Mason. The clerk at the New York yard is, and also at 
Fort Mifflin, but Iona Island is a new place. xVt Fort Mifflin, as 
stated before, it is a change from per diem to per annum, at a slight 
reduction in salary, but the transfer would put the man on a better 
footing. 

Mr. Roberts. The clerk at Iona Island is not. 

The Chairman. These new clerks, are they employed under the 
present appropriation ? 

Admiral Mason. At Iona Island the place asked for is a new one; 
an increase in force. At magazines we have per diem men, but it is 
advisable to put them on the civil establishment list when we can. 

Mr. Roberts. The $1,000 clerk at the naval magazine, Iona Island, 
is entirely new ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. 

Mr. Kitchin. No; he is really on the per diem basis now. 

Admiral Mason. The per diem people will be laid off or taken on 
as the work goes. They are paid out of appropriation “ Ordnance 
and ordnance stores." or “Armor and armament." But here is a big 
magazine (Fort Mifflin), and we want to have a clerk there regularly, 
and that should come under the “ Civil establishment." 

The Chairman. You have the same provision in regard to Norfolk, 
Va., and Mare Island, Cal.? 

Admiral Mason. We have asked for an increase of $100 in the 
pay of the chief clerk in the ordnance department at the Norfolk 
Navy-Yard, and for an additional clerk at $1,000 per annum for the 
naval magazine, St. Juliens Creek, Virginia, and also for an addi¬ 
tional clerk at $1,000 for the naval magazine at Mare Island, Cal. 

The Chairman. We come now to the navv-yard, Puget Sound, and 
the naval station at Cavite P. I. Is that the same arrangement 
there, also? They are per diem men, and would like to get on the 
annual clerical roll ? 

Admiral Mason. Yes. There is a special laborer at the navy-yard 
at Puget Sound who receives $3.28 per diem. He wants to get on the 
per annum roll. 

In the Philippines, at the naval station, these fellows are on a per 
diem, and they go onto the annual roll. 

Mr. Kitchin. It is understood when these men go on the regular 
roll that their per diem employment ceases, and we will save some¬ 
thing along the line? 

n p— 07 - 5 


66 


Admiral Mason. We will save something, the transfer to the per 
annum roll being at a slight reduction of pay. There are some new 
men, however. They are all necessary. 

Mr. Roberts. Was there any recommendation in regard to the 
writer at the Boston Navy-Yard, that lie be rated as a clerk? Did 
an} 7 such recommendation come to your Bureau ? 

Admiral Mason. The Bureau recommended to the Secretary an in¬ 
crease in the pay of the chief clerk at Boston, after the estimates were 
submitted, but the Secretary did not forward the recommendation 
to Congress. 

The Chairman. Now we pass to page 104. The first provision is 
for three brick magazine buildings, each 75 feet by 40 feet, at Dover, 
N. J. 

Admiral Mason. That is under “ Public works, Bureau of Ord¬ 
nance? ” 

The Chairman. Y es. 

Admiral Mason. 1 will here submit the following explanation con¬ 
cerning the estimates for public works under the Bureau: 

PUBLIC WORKS, BUREAU OF ORDNANCE. 

Naval powder depot, Dover, N. J.: 

Three brick magazine buildings, each 75 by 40 feet, to be known as 
magazines Nos. 0, 7. and 8, with the necessary railroad tracks to con¬ 
nect with the present system_$33, 000 

Removing brush, clearing grounds, and overhauling railroad tracks 
and roads____ 3, 000 


Total___ 36,000 

The Bureau in its last estimates asked for the same amount for these maga¬ 
zines, and for $3,000 for removing brush, etc., but these items were disallowed 
by Congress. 

While this depot is in generally satisfactory condition, the buildings, etc., 
above mentioned are an absolute necessity, as it is the main storehouse for the 
reserve ammunition of the Navy, and its full development is imperative. 

Naval magazine, St. Julians Creek, Virginia: 

One brick magazine building, 50 by 100 feet_$14, 000 

There being no naval magazine of any capacity south of Norfolk, the impor¬ 
tance of this one is evident. The additional magazine building is required to 
meet the demands for more storage space for powder, the conditions at this 
time being congested and ammunition stored under temporary sheds without 
either lock or key. 

It is hoped that the addition of this one magazine building will be adequate 
to meet demands at this magazine for some years. 

Fencing newly acquired land_:_,_$4,450 

The purchase of additional land out of funds available from an old appro¬ 
priation has been authorized by the Department, and fencing is necessary in 
order to secure the protection for which the land was acquired. 

This consists of about 1,000 feet corrugated-iron fencing 8 feet high com¬ 
plete—galvanized iron. The remaining part of this magazine is already fur¬ 
nished with this fence as a protection from fire from near-by woods, under¬ 
brush, grass, etc., $3.45 per foot. 

Installing electric lights, heaters for filling houses, and motor for re¬ 
forming plant-$15, 300 

The items above mentioned are necessary for the proper equipment of the 
magazine, it being considered especially desirable and economical to have re¬ 
forming plants at the larger magazines. This also includes the necessary wir¬ 
ing and conduits to carry the power from the Norfolk yard to the magazine, a 
distance of 3 or 4 miles. 

Naval proving ground, Indian Head, Maryland. 









67 


Shell and mount storehouse, including' 20-ton traveling crane and 5-ton 

auxiliary hoist_$20, 500 

The necessity for the shell and mount storehouse can not he too strongly 
urged. Guns, gun carriages, and armor-piercing shell when they arrive are 
left entirely exposed to the weather, and this exposure may endure for months 
and even years. In the case of the mechanisms of guns and mounts the result 
is that they suffer serious and costly deterioration. As regards the shell, 
quite recently the Bureau was compelled to condemn as scrap 28 6-inch shell, 
costing $1,120, that had been so long exposed to sun and frost as to render 
them useless. The Bureau is informed that it costs from $25 to $35 to clean 
up and put in order at the navy-yard each gun and mount that arrives there 
after proof. In the course of a year this expense will foot up to a large frac¬ 
tion of the cost of a proper storehouse. 

Paving battery ground-$13, 500 

This item was asked for last year, but the Department disallowed it. 

Experience in the last three years has more and more demonstrated 
the necessity and economy of having this work done for a number of reasons, 
the most important of which is that a large amount of experimental work 
requires, in the development of powders, the determination of the quantity of 
smoke, whether unburned powder is blown from the gun, etc., and while every 
effort was made by wetting down the ground, etc., to attain these results, the 
experiments were invariably vitiated by the character of the ground in front 
of the gun, raising a dust which mixed with the smoke and preventing entirely 
the finding of the grains blown from the gun. Furthermore, it is made ground, 
of clay and gravel, which is invariably dragged into the bombproof and 
powder rooms, creating danger and dirt; it is dragged on the battery and 
causes fouling of mechanisms. The velocity screens are suspended over this 
portion of the ground and have to be manipulated by the men, which requires 
them to walk around on this ground and handle cables and wires, wire, and, 
in all, these features introduce errors in ballistic and experimental work and 
consequently vitiate the value of the experiment, which naturally is a loss 
of money. 

Expect to use composite blocks. 

Laboratory annex_$5, 000 

The laboratory here was designed to accommodate four men working at 
chemical tests and determinations. The work has grown so that eleven labora- 
torians are kept busy in the one building, and the space is totally inadequate. 
The number of tests and determinations has grown to be very great, very 
much of the work being due to the fact that the German heat test has been 
added to the standard K. I. test, but a large part is also due to the great 
number of indices of powder now in existence that are constantly calling for 
chemical retest. 

The proposed building would be adequate if built of simple wooden framing 
with corrugated steel sides and roof, and sheathed on the inside with paper 
and sheet iron. Size of building, 30 by 40 feet, with sides 12 feet high, built 
with a 7-foot basement for storing samples, etc. The building itself would 
cost $3,500; fittings $1,000, and would be principally devoted to heat tests 
other than Iv. I. This building would be erected about 100 yards southeast of 
the laboratory. 

Nitrate of soda storehouse, to replace building destroyed by fire-$4, 500 

This is an all-steel shed with cement floor, built on the principle of a rail¬ 
road sand shed. To store 1,000,000 pounds of soda the shed would have to be 
100 feet long by 20 feet wide inside. The soda can be piled loose on the floor, 
and, there being absolutely nothing in the building, such as bagging, wood fram¬ 
ing, etc., loss by fire will be impossible. 

Ether vault and tank_$1< -ISO 

The original vault was built for the storage of ether incident to a production 
of powder amounting to 1,000 pounds per day. The plant has grown to a 
4,000-pound plant and the two ether tanks are inadequate. With the present 
arrangement a considerable loss of ether results in the following way: 

One tank is used as a receiving tank and the other is used to draw from. 
The delivery tank is, of course, under air pressure, and when the receiving 
tank is full we must shift the offices of these two tanks. This entails blowing 







68 


off the ether-laden air in tlie delivering tank before it can be used as a receiver, 
and as this occurs eight or ten times a month the loss of ether is considerable 
and costly. 

The above estimate calls for a single tank located in a 13-inch walled brick 
vault, arched over as shown in the plan. 

Pyro storehouse_$850 

To be located on line of narrow-gauge track, midway between pulping house 
and dehydrating house. A plain, galvanized-iron house, wooden framing, Id 
by 30 by 8 feet high. This house is intended to avoid the storing of large 
amounts of finished pyro in the working room of the dehydrating house, where, 
if it remains for any length of time it is liable to be contaminated by dust, 
dirt, etc. It often becomes necessary to accumulate a stock of pyro ahead, in 
order to make repairs to nitrating plant without stopping whole factory. 

Completion of bombproof for velocity battery_$900 

This work was begun two years ago but given up for want of funds. At 
present it is in an unfinished state and very unsightly, and practically prevents 
the use of the velocity battery should it be desirable to take advantage of the 
new butt on the north side of the valley. 

Clearing underbrush, care of grounds, and preservation of permanent 


way of railroad track_$6, 500 

Naval magazine. Fort Mifflin, Pa.: 

(1) Repairs to wharf and railroad track_$10,000 


Further repairs are needed to the wharf and railroad tracks, which are car¬ 
ried on trestles, and the Bureau believes the sum asked for will be necessary 
to perform the work properly. 

Appropriation “ Repairs, ordnance,” not sufficient for all of this work. 

(2) Installation of drainage system for 5 dwellings, to discharge into 

river at low-water mark_$7, 500 

It is absolutely necessary for the proper sanitary conditions of the five 
dwelling houses that a system of drainage to discharge into the river at low- 
water mark be installed. 

(3) Completion of stone road through reservation_$2, 400 

This contemplates the completion of the present road to the junction with 
Fort Mifflin lane, a distance of about 550 feet. The continuation of this road 
to the point named is very necessary, in order to facilitate the transportation 
of heavy freight, the road being very bad, especially in wet and snowy weather. 

(4) One building of corrugated steel construction, 18 by 32 feet, for use 

of workmen_$1, 200 

This is to replace a condemned wooden structure now used by the work¬ 
men for shelter and when at meals, no other building being available for the 
purpose. 

This is for the workmen to stow their clothes when preparing for magazine 
work, for shelter at meals, etc. 

(5) Fence to inclose property recently acquired from the War Depart¬ 

ment -$0,000 

The acreage at this magazine has recently been extended by the addition of 
land acquired from the War Department. The main essential in securing this 
additional land was to protect against trespassers, and especially against the 
danger of fire, due to such persons. The station is, in a way, isolated, and 
much of the land is attractive to gunners. The Bureau believes the sum asked 
for is absolutely necessary. 

Estimated cost, about $0.82 per foot. 

Frost wedge lock spring wire fence. Twelve wires with vertical connecting 
wires each foot and iron posts were necessary on account of gunners, cattle, 
etc., to continue present fence. 











69 


Naval magazine. New England coast: 

Toward the erection of the necessary buildings on ground, the purchase 
of which is now under negotiation, as authorized by the act approved 
April 27. 1904. for a new naval magazine on the New England coast: 
also, toward inclosing said grounds, grading and filling in. building 
roads and walks, improvement of the water front, necessary wharves 
and cranes, railroad tracks, and rolling stock for local service, fire 
and water service, and equipment of the establishment_$230,000 

In the last naval bill. Congress appropriated $200,000 for completing the pur¬ 
chase ot land required for this site and for commencing the development of the 
property as a naval magazine. 

Purchases of the different parcels of land comprising the entire site are now 
proceeding, and ot the total property about 82 acres have been acquired to date. 

Building operations will he commenced, as soon as the titles are acquired, 
and the appropriation of $230,000, completing the limit of cost prescribed by 
Congress in the naval bill of June 30, 1905, is necessary to establish the maga¬ 
zine at the earliest practicable date. 


Total valuation by Government appraisers_$146,000 

Paid to date November 11, 1906_ 24.340 

To complete payments_ 121. 660 


Number of acres, 720: estimated price per acre. $202. 
Naval magazine. Mare Island, Cal.: 


Toward additional magazine and storage facilities, quarters for gun¬ 
ners. fencing, extension of wharf, fire mains, lighting, telephone 
and railroad systems, and equipment pertaining thereto, on plans to 
be hereafter determined upon at the naval magazine. Mare Island, 


The details of the different items required under this head are estimated to be 
approximately as follows: 

Two magazine buildings, 30 by 80 feet_$18,250 

On gun-cotton magazine. 25 by 40 feet_ 3. 290 

One steel storage shed_ 25, 000 

One paint and oil mixing house_ 2,400 

Two additional houses for gunners_ 11, 500 

Extend north end of wharf 100 by 50 feet, and the north side 216 by 50 
feet, erect freight shed on same, and rearrange railroad tracks to suit 

wharf enlargement_ 26. 000 

Extension of lire mains to afford protection to all buildings under con¬ 
struction and estimated for__ 2, 750 

Extend lighting and telephone systems to buildings under construction 

and estimated for_^_ 1,500 

Extend railroad tracks to new magazine under construction_ 3, 850 

Extend fence to inclose grounds_ 500 

Contingencies _*_ 4. 960 


Total _ICO, 000 

Owing to the congested condition of the magazines at this station the War 
and Navy Departments jointly approved the transfer to the Army in April last 
of a large quantity of brown powder (650,000 pounds! which it was absolutely 
necessary to dispose of for lack of storage space. 

The conditions at this magazine are still very much congested, and the Bureau 
has included the above sum in its estimates to he used for necessary improve¬ 
ments. These estimates are recommended because of the certainty that this 
magazine must continue to be for many years the important powder depot on 
the west coast, at which the greater part of the ammunition for the Asiatic fleet 
will be held for shipment, and therefore the necessity of providing adequate 
means of meeting these requirements. 

Naval magazine. Iona Island. New York : 

(1) Extension to locomotive house to hold No. 2 compressed-air locomo¬ 
tive_$800 
























70 


Tlie present locomotive house holds but one locomotive. A second locomotive 
luis been received the past year, for which a shelter is urgently needed. 

By building alongside the old locomotive house and by using old material 
a place to protect the new locomotive can be provided for amount estimated. 
At present the new locomotive is kept under a temporary shed. Proper housing 
capacity for the two locomotives in daily use is necessary and should be provided. 

(2) Installing lire protection, standpipes, and nozzles in storehouse 

No. 1_ $1,050 

The storehouses are fireproof buildings in which are stored large quantities 
of material, pine ammunition boxes, paper bags, excelsior, distance pieces, etc. 
Storehouse No. 2 was fitted with a complete system of standpipes, with dirigible 
nozzles (without hose), by which every point of the building can be reached 
by two fire streams by pointing nozzles and opening valves at each nozzle. 
This makes a very complete method of extinguishing fires at the beginning and 
is a cheap insurance. 

It is desired to equip storehouse No. 1 with the same system. 

(3) Two additional magazine buildings, standard construction, with 

grading of sites_$30, 000 

Additional magazine floor space is absolutely needed. There are six maga¬ 
zines, one of which is used exclusively for black powder, and two compartments of 
another can not be used for explosives on account of overlapping. In the four 
and one-lialf magazines available for smokeless powder over 3,000,000 pounds 
of smokeless powder in bulk and in charges are stored. The buildings are 
crowded, and much inconvenience is caused by lack of floor space to sort out 
lots and indices of powder. The natural growth of the Navy will increase the 
amount, and as time will be required to prepare sites and erect magazines, three 
additional magazines should be authorized and work commenced as soon as 
practicable. 

(4) Three filling houses, with steam heating_$3,000 

The importance of a sufficient number of working places for small parties 
at a magazine can not be overestimated, as work under existing regulations 
can only be done away from magazines in filling houses or platforms, by 
small groups of workmen. 

At this magazine there is but one filling house heated with steam, and 
that is really the only place approaching the regulation temperature of 70°. 
There are two other filling houses partly heated by electric heaters, which 
during cold weather are but little above the freezing point. There are two 
open patforms recently installed and others under construction which are used 
in summer to good advantage for loading shell and breaking down ammunition. 
A shipping house is also used when wharf work does not prevent. 

In summer, therefore, there are six working places, and in winter one prop¬ 
erly heated filling house and two others partly heated, making three in all, 
available for use at all times. This number of working places is not sufficient 
for current work in time of peace. In time of war twice or three times that 
number would be urgently needed. 

(5) One double cottage for gunner and pharmacist___$13,000 

It is very desirable that the chief gunner should reside at the magazine in 
order that his services may be available in starting work in the morning, and 
outside office hours. The inspector of ordnance now occupies the house in¬ 
tended for chief gunner, as being the only quarters available. This necessi¬ 
tates the chief gunner obtaining quarters outside at the nearest point where 
quarters are obtainable, at Haverstraw, N. Y., 0 miles from the magazine. An¬ 
other commissioned officer should reside on the magazine grounds. 11 is services 
are necessary both for the progress of work and also in case of emergency. 

The pharmacist stationed at the magazine takes the place of a medical officer, 
as there is no physician nearer than several miles. As his services are urgently 
needed in case of accidents which may happen at any hour, he should be 
furnished quarters on Iona Island. 

As there are no quarters for his use, he is at present required to occupy one- 
half of one of the cottages built for employees. 

Proper quarters for pharmacist should be provided. The site at Iona Island 
is a thinly settled part of New York State, away from villages or towns, 
making it extraordinarily inconvenent for officers on duty unless quarters are 
provided. 






71 


(6) Extension of railroad tracks and new sidings_$6,000 

Buildings, magazines, and filling houses are now located directly on main tracks, 
w *th but few sidings. Cars placed for work near these buildings block the 
tracks, necessitating much loss of time both to working parties and in haul¬ 
ing cars. 

1 here are parts of the island not utilized now which could be made of great 
value by extending railroad tracks away from crowded portion. In case new 
magazines and new filling houses are built, the extensions of the railroad track 
would be valuable both for construction purposes and for current use after 
buildings are erected. 

1 he additional railway tracks should be laid in advance of building opera¬ 
tions to get the full benefit. 

(7) Building for marine quarters and guardhouse_$10,000 

A building and a guardhouse for a marine guard of 24 to 36 privates should 
be erected near the main gate. The present marine guard of 11 men, sufficient 
to maintain two posts, a sentry at the gate, and a patrol, as there are no other 
quarters occupy one-half of cottage No. 4, designed for employees. They are 
much crowded and should have, a properly designed building. 

(8) One heat-test house, plan 20147/1_$1,000 

A small building, heated by steam, for drying samples of smokeless powder for 
heat test, arranged for use as a testing room and drying room, should be pro¬ 
vided, as handling the large number of samples required to be tested should be 
performed in an isolated building. At present this work is done in the upper 
story or garret of the office building, and the drying of samples is carried on in 
the dynamo room as the only place available. A separate house for this work 
is very necessary where so much depends on the proper testing of the powder. 

(9) Water-closets and wash rooms at power house_$4,000 

There are no water-closets or wash rooms at this magazine for the use of 
workmen, except several small portable earth closets installed within the last 
year. 

A proper water-closet and wash room should be installed at or near the power 
house, where the 125 workmen assemble for dinner and muster, in the interests 
of health and decency. 

(10) Extending sewers_$500 

Two sewers emptying on the flat in cove abreast the power house should be 
extended 140 feet to edge of channel and the flat filled in gradually by using 
it as a dump. At present the flat at low water is offensive and unsanitary. 

(11) Primer house_$600 

A small primer house of corrugated iron is much needed to stow large quan¬ 
tities of primers and fuses kept in stock. There is no primer house at present, 
except an old water-closet, used for the purpose in the absence of any other 
building. 

Naval magazine, Puget Sound. 

For necessary buildings; water and fire system; fencing, clearing, 
and grading; railroad tracks, and equipment of the naval magazine, 


Puget Sound, on ground recently acquired for the purpose_$153, 000 

The following items are embraced in this estimate: 

One gun-cotton house_ $2, 400 

Four magazine buildings_ 28, 000 

One shell house_ 17, 000 

One magazine for suspected powder_ 3, 800 

One gunners’ quarters_ 4, 400 

One stable_ 1, 500 

One house for watchman_ 4, 500 

Two filling houses_ 1, 600 

One administration building_ 9, 000 

One fuse house_ 2, 400 

One primer house_ 2, 400 

One storehouse_ 19, 000 

One workshop- 3, 000 






















72 


One reservoir and tank_$24, 000 

Railroad system_ 35,000 

Water and tire system_ 5, 000 

Clearing and grading_ 10, 000 


Total _ 153,000 


During tlie fiscal year a survey of this magazine site, purchased under the 
appropriation carried in the naval bill of July 1, 1902, has been made and 
topographical map completed; also plan looking to the laying out and develop¬ 
ment of the grounds, and specifications and plans for wharf and two maga¬ 
zine buildings have been made and the contract let for the wharf. Steps have 
been taken for clearing and grading such portions of the site as are necessary 
and can be done within the limits of the appropriation. 

The necessity for increased magazine facilities on the Pacific coast of the 
United States is urgent, inasmuch as with the accumulation of a reserve supply 
of ammunition it will be a matter of policy to keep in store on the west coast 
such a supply as would be expected to meet the demands of a fleet operating in 
the Pacific Ocean. The storage facilities on the west coast at present are inade¬ 
quate at Mare Island, and that is the only magazine on the coast. The appro¬ 
priation carried in the naval bill referred to (July 1, 1902) is barely more than 
sufficient to provide for the purchase of land and portion of the clearing and 
grading, and the necessary wharf at Ostrich Bay, and the amount asked for is 
urgently recommended to be favorably considered. 

Naval magazine, Philippine Islands. 

For further extension of magazine at Philippine Islands, including 

clearing and grading, extension of railroad track, new buildings, fire 

system and necessary equipment_ $40, 000 

During the last fiscal year work at this naval magazine, under the appro¬ 
priation of July 1, 1904, has been progressing very satisfactorily. The necessary 
timber and pile pier 100 feet long, 12 feet wide at inside end and 24 feet at 
outer end. has been completed, and an industrial railway track from the pier 
end through graded portion of the magazine site has been laid. 

Two magazine buildings and one shell house are nearing completion, and the 
mason work on another shell house has been completed to the height of the 
eave, awaiting the structural steel to be shipped from the United States. 

Material for custodian’s quarters has been ordered and for the most part 
del ivered. 

Out of the appropriation of $50,000 carried by the act of July 1, 1904, it is 
expected to complete at this station two magazine buildings, two shell houses, 
two filling houses, one storehouse for high explosives, custodian’s quarters, and 
quarters for necessary watchmen; also the pier and installation of the railway 
track. The buildings thus provided will not be sufficient for the purposes of a 
naval magazine, if the magazine at Cavite is abandoned, which, under the 
Department's present instructions, is the condition contemplated, and the Bu¬ 
reau has therefore included the above item of $40,000 for the purpose of 
further extending the magazine at Olongapo, including clearing, grading, exten¬ 
sion of railway tracks, new buildings, fire system, etc. 

With this additional sum this magazine can be put on an efficient footing for 
immediate necessities. 

Naval magazine, Guantanamo: 

For necessary buildings and wharf, clearing, grading, and equipment 


of the naval magazine, Guantanamo_$52, 500 

This estimate embraces approximately the following items: 

Two magazine buildings_$15,000 

One shelihouse_ 37,000 

Quarters for gunner_ 0,000 

Wharf, clearing, and grading_ 12. 000 

Contingencies _ 2, 500 


Total- 52, 500 


At this naval station there is as yet no ordnance department, and no work 
under the cognizance of this Bureau has been done there during the past fiscal 
year. The experience of the past fiscal year, however, has demonstrated the 
need of the items asked for in the Bureau’s estimates. 

















73 


Torpedo station, Newport, It. I.: 

(1) Rebuild the oldest section of sea wall_ $5,000 

(-) Ferry slips at torpedo station and Government landing_ 7,500 

(d) Torpedo factory, with equipment of machine tools, engine, boilers, 

and necessary equipment_ 155,000 


Total- 167,500 

Item 1 : This section of the sea wall is undermined and the top of the wall is 
pushed over toward the sea. The wall is in such a condition that it is beyond 
the ability of the station force to repair permanently. Serious damage is inevi¬ 
table unless the wall is rebuilt. This is a continuation of repairs to the sea wall. 

Item 2 : This is to provide an entrance for the ferryboat which has been 
authorized by the Department, and plans for which are now under consideration. 

Item 3. This is to provide a Government factory whereby the Department 
will be placed in a more independent position than it at present occupies in 
regard to the manufacture of torpedoes. At present the Government is prac¬ 
tically dependent on one firm alone in this country for its torpedoes—an unfor¬ 
tunate condition, because, under the circumstances, a firm which is the sole 
manufacturer of an article is in a position to dictate its own terms to the Gov¬ 
ernment as well as to an individual. This inevitably causes delay in the deliv¬ 
ery, and has a decided tendency to increase the price of the manufactured 
article. 

Such a plant as the one recommended would not necessarily supersede the 
business of the private firm, but its output would materially help to supply the 
demand. 

The estimated yearly output of this factory would be 50 torpedoes 5 m. 45 cm. 
and 40 torpedoes 5 m. 21 inches of latest improved type, or the modification of 
300 older torpedoes 5 m. 45 cm. Mark I torpedoes. 

The factory would employ about 175 skilled mechanics. The possession of a 
torpedo factory by the Government would be a constant spur and incentive to 
the private firm or firms and there could be no doubt that the character of the 
work of the firm or firms would be greatly improved. A control by the Gov¬ 
ernment on the cost of torpedoes could be had, etc. 

This is considered as absolutely necessary. 

Mr. Loudenslager. You are asking* for about three-quarters of a 
million dollars increase over and above last year? 

Admiral Mason. The reasons for it are all given here. 

The Chairman. Could you make any suggestions as to cutting 
dowp ? 

Admiral Mason. No; I think everything submitted is very nec¬ 
essary. 

The Chairman. Of course we are only appropriating for one 
year. Take the New England magazine. Would we need all of 
that for one year ? 

Admiral Mason. I should say for the coming year. Plans are 
being prepared now, and my idea is (the need of this magazine is so 
great) to enter as soon as the bill is passed into contracts for the 
grading and building. 

The Chairman. You have not got those plans yet, have you? 

Admiral Mason. No; but they can doubtless be prepared before 
the purchase of the property is completed. 

The Chairman. You already have $200,000. 

Admiral Mason. The greater part of that—about $110,000 to 
$115,000, after the purchases are completed. 

The Chairman. We want to give you the money as fast as you 
need it, but we do not want to give it to you any faster than you do 

need it. . 

Admiral Mason. I think we can use it all. I am going to Boston 
in the next two or three days, and I will be able to put in my testi- 







74 


mony, anyway, the information as to the actual necessity. You gave 
us $200,000? 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Admiral Mason. The total amount to complete payments out of 
this appropriation will be about $82,000, on Government appraise¬ 
ments, but some of these claims may be settled out of court at a 
slight increase of cost above the estimates. The total valuation of 
the Government appraisers was $146,000, whereas the original valu¬ 
ation was about half of that. 

Mr. Roberts. It was less than that. The board appointed, if you 
will recall, sent in a report to us that the land was worth about 
$35,000, and could be, in their judgment, bought for $70,000. 

Admiral Mason. We have gone into the courts now for it. We 
have options on about one-fifth. 

Mr. Roberts. These prices we are paying would be under condem¬ 
nation proceedings? 

Admiral Mason. Under condemnation proceedings where neces¬ 
sary; otherwise by regular purchase. There are about 720 acres, at 
an approximate cost of $202 an acre. That leaves us about 80 acres 
to start with. I will put in my hearing, or, if not, communicate 
immediately with you as to what w T e can expend. 

Note. —Having since visited the Boston Navy-Yard and looked over the pre¬ 
liminary plans now under construction. I am of the opinion that this item of 
$230,000 can be reduced to $130,000 this year, provided that the appropriation 
of the remaining $100,000 can be counted on for the next fiscal year. 

Contracts could be let for the whole amount as soon as this bill is passed, 
but it is not absolutely necessary to do so. The work, however, is being laid 
out on the assumption that the entire sum of $230,000 will be appropriated by 
the next session of Congress. 

The Chairman. Take this naval magazine at Mare Island. I will 
just speak about these large items now. This is $100,000. 

Admiral Mason. That is itemized in this way. The total of the 
different items required under this head is estimated to be approxi¬ 
mately as follows: “ Two magazine buildings, $18,250.” 

The Chairman. Yes; but I want to ask you on the general ques¬ 
tion, do you regard that as important this year? 

Admiral Mason. Yes, sir. We are snowed up as regards stowage 
of ammunition, and the reserve we are accumulating necessitates more 
storage room. 

There is one thing more, appropriation “ Increase of the Navy.” 
This is on page 192, “ Armor and armament, nine million dollars.” 
Congress appropriated under this head for the current fiscal year the 
sum of $15,145,000. The balance on hand October 1 was $9,540,- 
611.87. A careful examination of the progress of work on vessels 
now under construction and authorized leads the Bureau to believe 
that the above sum will be required for the fiscal year 1907-8. 

This estimate contemplates the expenditure of $6,000,000 on vessels 
now under construction and $3,000,000 toward the armor and arma¬ 
ment of the battle ship authorized by the act of June 29, 1906. 

The Bureau asked Congress for a deficiency of $2,000,000 under 
“Armor and armament ” at its last session, but this was not allowed. 
The Bureau was therefore obliged to cover this deficiency by drawing 
on funds, for the current fiscal year, which amounted in round num- 


bers to $1,800,000 and reduced the working appropriation for the year 
to $13,345,000. 

It is now thought that this deficiency will probably not exceed the 
sum of $1,000,000 at the end of the current fiscal year, and this sum 
the Bureau will ask for in one of the deficiency bills should circum¬ 
stances so demand. 

The above-mentioned deficiency is not really a deficiency, because 
that amount of ordnance material is already on hand under the ap¬ 
propriation “Armor and armament.” That is, we have paid for it, 
and the apparent deficiency is not a deficiency because we have not 
money to pay for more. When the time comes we can wind up this 
appropriation, but now it must be a continuing one. 

The above estimate is exclusive of ammunition and other supplies 
for new ships heretofore appropriated under “Armor and armament,” 
and for the fiscal year 1907-8 the sum of $750,000 will be required. 
This has been estimated for under “ Ordnance and ordnance stores,” 
and if not allowed under that head should be appropriated under 
“Armor and armament ” in addition to the $9,000,000 asked for. If 
allowed, it is requested that a clause be inserted providing that ammu¬ 
nition and other supplies already on hand, or contracted for under 
appropriation “Armor and armament,” shall be thereby transferred 
to appropriation “ Ordnance and ordnance stores ” the same as if 
purchased under that appropriation. 

Mr. Kitchin. I notice you strike out the provisions of the proviso 
in the last bill under this item. 

Admiral Mason. About shell? 

Mr. Kitchin. No; the provision that no part of this appropriation 
shall be expended for armor for vessels except upon contracts for 
such armor when awarded bv the Secretary of the Navy, to the lowest 
responsible bidder, having in view the best results and most expedi¬ 
tious delivery. 

Admiral Mason. I have no knowledge of that. I had nothing to 
do with the preparation of this bill. 

Mr. Kitchin. I wonder who can explain that to us. I want some 
information about that last letting of the contract. 

The Chairman. It was put in by the House. 

Mr. Roberts. Who struck that out? 

The Chairman. These estimates come from the Department in this 
shape, without the proviso. The basis of our bill here is last year’s 
law, and we put in all of last year’s law, and also the estimates of the 
Department, and put them together, and those things that the Depart¬ 
ment does not send up here but which were in last year’s law are put 
in the bill with a line drawn through. 

Mr. Kitchin. But does not the Department take last year’s law ? 

The Chairman. No; they never do it. I wish you would put in 
your hearing, Admiral, a statement of that whole last armor contract, 
what the bids were, and all about it; what the conclusion of the 
Department was, and to whom the contract was let and how much was 
let to each one, and the reasons why the Department took the posi¬ 
tion that it did. We want that all put in the hearings. It will very 
likely be called for on the floor. 

(The information asked for is hereto appended, marked “ B.”) 

Admiral Mason. You have the report of the armor board now, 
have you not ? 


76 


The Chairman. No; not yet. We would like to have that, also. 
Admiral Mason. It is in the Printer’s hands iioav, and should be 
ready \ 7 ery soon. It is a House document. I don’t know the number, 
as the copy is with the Printer. 

(At 1.45 o’clock p. m. the committee adjourned until to-morro\A T , 
Wednesday, December 12, 1906, at 10.30 o'clock a. m.) 


Appendix A.— Table showing number and prices of armor-piercing shell of 5- 
inch caliber and above, purchased on requisition for the years 1003-1906, 
inclusive. 


Year. 


1903 


1904 


Requisi¬ 
tion No. 


1905 


1906 


166 

167 

168 

170 

179 

180 
261 

58 

152 

186 

189 

226 

227 

23 

77 


197 

254 

257 

69 

132 

133 
252 


Company. 


Crucible.. 

Carpenter 
Midvale .. 


Firth-Sterling 

Bethlehem ... 
Carpenter .... 
Firth-Sterling 
.do. 


.do 

.do 


_do. 

Bethlehem ... 
Firth-Sterling 
.do. 


.do 


.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 

.do 


Subject. 


J600 10-inch. 

\600 12-inch. 

1,000 8-inch. 

1,000 5-inch. 

J200 8-inch. 

\200 12-inch. 

2,000 6-inch. 

2,000 7-inch. 

2,000 8-inch. 

2,000 8-inch. 

1,250 8-inch. 

1750 8-inch. 

\50 12-inch. 

7,000 6-inch. 

1,000 6-inch. 

1,000 7-inch. 

5 12-inch. 

1300 10-inch. 

\300 13-inch. 

100 12-inch. 

1,000 7-inch. 

1,000 5-inch. 

1,000 7-inch. 

500 5-inch. 

f1,000 6-inch. 

\350 7-inch. 

1,000 7-inch. 

1.000 8-inch. 

200 13-inch. 


Price. 


$105. 00 
158.00 
62.50 
21.83 
40.00 
150.00 
25. 00 
38.75 
62. 50 
62. 50 
55.00 
55. 00 
160.00 
25.00 
30.00 
45.00 
170.00 
112 . 00 
220. 00 
190. 00 
45.00 
22.00 
45.00 
22 . 00 
25.00 
45.00 
45.00 
62.50 
220.00 


Contracts placed since July 1, 1906. 
[After advertisement.] 

Contract now with company for signature: 


Firth-Sterling— 

1,000 6-inch_$25. 00 

1,000 7-inch_ 45.00 

1,000 8-inch_ ( 52 . 50 

1,000 12-inch- 190. 00 


The following is an extract from the schedule of proposals for furnishing 
armor-piercing and target shell, which were opened in the Bureau of Ordnance 
at noon, December 19, 1906: 

Armor-piercing shell—Price per shell. 



1,000 

6-inch. 

1.000 

7-inch. 

1,000 

8-inch. 

1,000 

12-inch. 

Firth-Sterling Steel Co. 

$25.00 

(«) 
32.00 
37 50 

$45.00 

(a) 

ad 


$190.00 

( n ) 

American and British Manufacturing Co.. 

$0*-. ou 
(«) 

Bethlehem Steel Co. 

Midvale Steel Co. 

Ad on 

y l. ou 

318.00 
292. 00 



AW. w 


« No bid. 







































































































In each case the Firth-Sterling Steel 
shortest time for delivery. 


Company offered the lowest price and 


Target shell—Price per shell. 



2 000 
5-inch. 

5,000 

6-inch. 

1 poo. 
7-inch. 

2,000 

8-inch. 

1,000 

12-inch. 

Firtli-Sterling Steel Co. 

American and British Manufacturing Co. 

Bethlehem Steel Co. 

Midvale Steel Co. 

(«) 

$6.62 

9.90 

11.25 

$10.45 

11.95 

18.50 

23.00 

$15.45 
21.07 
33.00 
40.00 

$20.90 

(a) 

52.00 

48.00 

$57. 90 

( a ) 

96.00 

97.00 


a No bid. 


In each case, except that of the 5-inch target shell, the Firtli-Sterling Steel 
Company offered the lowest price and shortest time for delivery. In the case of 
the 5-inch target shell the American and British Manufacturing Company, of 
Bridgeport. Conn., offered the lowest price and shortest time for delivery. 


Appendix B. — Statement regarding the award of the last armor contracts. 

Following the Navy Department's advertisement dated May 21, 190G, pro¬ 
posals were opened at noon, July 10. 1900. for furnishing about 7,388 tons of 
armor plates and appurtenances for vessels authorized by the act of Congress 
approved March 3, 1905, viz, battle ships No. 2(5 ( South Carolina) and No. 27 
(Mich igan ). 

Bids were submitted by the three firms possessing armor plants as follows: 

BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY. 

Armor for the vessels authorized by the act of Congress approved March 3, 
1305. viz , the battle ships South Carolina and Michigan. 


Vessel. 

Class A 
armor. 

Price per Total 
ton. lotai. 

Class B 
armor. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

For one battle ship No. 26. 

For one battle ship No. 27. 

Total . 

Tons. 

3,512 

3,512 

$381 $1,338,072 
381 1, 338,072 

Tons. 

5 

5 

$381 

381 

$1,905 

1,905 

7,044 


2,676,144 

10 


3,81C 




Vessel. 

Class C 
armor. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

Bolts and 
nuts. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

Aggre¬ 

gate. 

For one battle ship No. 26. 

For one battle ship No. 27. 

Total 

Tons. 

147 

147 

$381 

381 

$56,007 
56,007 

Tons. 

30 

30 

$360 

360 

$10,800 
10,800 

$1,406,784 
1,406, 784 

294 


112,014 

60 


21,600 

2,813, 568 





Aggregate bid for armor for battle ships Nos. 26 and 27. 



Total tons. 

Aggregate. 

Armor ... 

OO O 
'M O 

cc 

$2,791,968 
21, 600 

Bolts arid tints .. 

Total .-. 

7,388 

2,813, 568 



Deliveries of above armor will be commenced within five and one-half months 
after receipt of preliminary drawings, and continue at the rate of 000 tons per 
month thereafter. 


















































































78 


CARNEGIE STEEL COMPANY. 


Armor for the vessels authorized l>n the act of Con arcs* appeared March 3. 
1005, viz, the battle ships Mouth, Carolina and Michigan. 


Vessel. 

Class A 
armor. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

Class B 
armor. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

For one battle ship No. 26. 

For one battle ship No. 27. 

Total 

Tons. 

3,512 

3,512 

$370 

370 

$1,299,440 

1,299,440 

Tons. 

5 

5 

$370 

370 

$1,850 
1,850 

7,024 


2,598,880 

10 


3,700 




Vessel. 

Class C 
armor. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

Bolts and 
nuts. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

Aggre¬ 

gate. 

For one battle ship No. 26. 

For one battle ship No. 27. 

Total. 

Tons. 

147 

147 

$370 

370 

$54,390 
54,390 

Tons. 

30 

30 

*"$370 

370 

$11,100 

11,100 

$1,366,780 

1,366,780 

294 


108, 780 

60 


22,200 

2,733,560 





Aggregate hid for armor for battle ships Nos. 26 and 27. 



Total 

tons. 

Aggregate. 

Armor. 

7,328 
60 

$2,711,360 

22,200 

Bolts and nuts. 

Total. 

7,388 

2,733,560 



Deliveries of above armor will be commenced within six months after 
receipt of preliminary plans and continue at the rate of 000 tons per month 
thereafter. 

MIDVALE STEEL COMPANY. 

Armor for the vessels authorized by the act of Congress approved March 3, 
1905, viz, the battle ships Mouth Carolina and Michigan. 


Vessel. 

Class A 
armor. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

Class B 
armor. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

For one battle ship No. 26. 

For one battle ship No. 27. 

Total. 

Tons. 

3,512 
3,512 

$346.00 
346. 00 

$1,215,152 
1,215,152 

Tons. 

5 

5 

$345. 00 
345.00 

$1,725 

1,725 

7,024 


2,430,304 

10 


3,450 




Vessel. 

Class C 
armor. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

Bolts and 
nuts. 

Price per 
ton. 

Total. 

Aggre¬ 

gate. 

For one battle ship No. 26. 

For one battle ship No. 27. 

Total. 

Tons. 

147 

147 

$344. 00 
344. 00 

$50.568 
50, 568 

Tons. 

30 

30 

$343.00 
343.00 

$10,290 
10,290 

$1,277,735 
1) 2> / /, / 35 

294 


101,136 

60 


20,580 

2,555,470 





Aggregate bid for armor for battle ships Nos. 26 and 21. 



Total 

tons. 

Aggregate. 


7,328 
60 

$2,534,890 
20,580 

Bolts and nuts. 

Total. 

7,388 

2,555,470 













































































































79 


Deliveries of above armor will be commenced on or before the dates required 
by the circular and specifications dated May 21, 1906, page 11), paragrapli 115, 
and continue at the rate of 600 tons per month thereafter. 

The Midvale Steel Company added to its bid a statement offering to under¬ 
take to advance the dates and increase the amounts of deliveries. 

These bids were referred to the Bureau of Ordnance by the following indorse¬ 
ments : 

“ Respectfully referred to the Bureau of Ordnance with the request that a 
schedule of the within bids be prepared and returned with recommendation 
as to award of contract. 

“ By direction of the Secretary. 

“ S. W. B. Diehl, 

“ Judge-Advocate-General." 

At that time there remained to he delivered by each of these three companies, 
under previous contracts, the following approximate amounts of armor: 


Contract dated. 

Bethle¬ 

hem. 

Carnegie. 

Midvale. 

December 15, 1903. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

2,979 

December 31, 1903. 

175 


January 9. 1904. 

165 


April 1, 1905 . 

1,225 


April 3, 1905. 

695 


April 5, 1905 . 


1,000 

Total. 



1,400 

860 

3,979 



In compliance with the Department’s indorsement, the Bureau of Ordnance 
submitted the following recommendation: 


[Second indorsement.] 


July 13, 1906. 


1. Respectfully returned to the Navy Department, together with schedule and 
all papers. 

2. In submitting its recommendation as to the award of this contract this 
Bureau desires to invite the Department’s attention to the following points for 
its consideration: 

3. The three bidders—Bethlehem, Carnegie, and Midvale Steel companies— 
represent the only armor-manufacturing plants in the country. The Bethlehem 
and Carnegie companies commenced the manufacture at the instance of the 
Government under contracts in 1887 and 1890, respectively, and the Midvale 
Company entered the field in competition, being awarded its first contract in 
December, 1903. 

4. The bids of the Bethlehem and Carnegie companies are higher than those 
of the lowest bidder—the Midvale Steel Company. The status of unfinished 
armor contracts existing at date with these three companies is briefly as fol¬ 
lows : 

5. The Bethlehem Steel Company has to supply, under existing contracts, 
about 1,400 tons, of which 175 tons is to be delivered under contract of Decem¬ 
ber 31, 1903, and 1,225 tons under contract of April 1, 1905. This armor will 
probably be all delivered before the end of this year. 

6. The Carnegie Steel Company has to supply, under existing contracts, about 
860 tons, of which 165 tons is to be delivered under contract of January 9. 1904, 
and 695 tons under contract of April 3, 1905. This armor will probably be all 
delivered in the next few months. 

7. The Midvale Steel Company, under contract of December 15, 1903, is re¬ 
quired to furnish 5,566 tons of armor, and under the contract of April 5, 1905, 
998 tons of armor. Allowing 3 per cent additional required for ballistic plates, 
the total amount of armor being supplied by this company under existing con¬ 
tracts amounts to about 6,760 tons. Up to date they have delivered 2,844 tons. 

8. The last of the remaining 3,916 tons of armor is required to be delivered 
not later than April 30, 1907. Although embarrassment is being caused the 
Bureau by delayed deliveries and it seems possible that the armor makers may 
be penalized, under the terms of the contracts, for delayed deliveries of certain 
portions of this armor, yet the Bureau is of the opinion that these contracts 






















80 


will have been completed by the last date mentioned, April 30, 1007, the exe¬ 
cution of which will necessitate deliveries of armor at the rate of 405 tons per 
month. 

9. The greatest amount of armor this company has delivered in one month 
(April, 1906) is 622 tons. The highest average rate for three consecutive 
months (February, March, and April, 1906) was 488 tons per month, and the 
average per month for the four months (February, March, April, and May, 
1906) was 414 tons. 

10. The “Circular and specifications concerning armor plate," governing the 
bids for this armor for the Michigan and South Carolina , require deliveries of 
armor to commence nine months after receipt, by the armor makers, of the 
forging plans. Assuming that these plans are supplied them September 1, 1906, 
the first deliveries of armor should he made June 1, 1907, and continue there¬ 
after at a monthly rate of 600 tons. It is probable, however, that the ship¬ 
builders will require about 260 tons to be delivered about^May 1, 1907. 

11. From a consideration of the present status of existing contracts, detailed 
above, all three companies should be ready to begin deliveries at the time 
desired. 

12. In the act of Congress making appropriations for armor and armament 
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, it is provided “ that no part of this 
appropriation shall be expended for armor for vessels except upon contracts 
for such armor when awarded by the Secretary of the Navy, to the lowest re¬ 
sponsible bidder, having in view the best results and most expeditious delivery.” 

13. The Bureau is of the opinion that if the contract for all of this armor is 
awarded to one company, which will result necessarily in the complete closing 
down of the other two large armor-making plants, that “ the best results ” will 
not be obtained. The workmen skilled in this kind of work would become 
scattered; such of the plant as could be utilized for commercial work would 
be diverted to it; the armor plants would probably lose their identity as such, 
and it seems most probable that the companies would abolish them as such and 
not be willing in the future to undertake to collect their skilled force, refit the 
plant, and take up anew this special kind of work. The probable result of such 
enforced closing down of two armor plants would be to leave the country with 
only one armor plant to supply all the armor that may be required in the future. 
This, in the Bureau’s opinion, is a condition to be avoided, if possible. Not only 
does the existence of several armor plants increase the resources, but they also 
encourage competition, as these bids show. 

14. Although the capacity of one plant would seem ample for the present 
needs of the Navy, yet the chances of unlooked-for delays must be considered. 
The breaking down of a press or other important piece of machinery, the failure 
of one or more “ groups ” of armor to pass ballistic or other tests, a serious 
fire or other accident at the works, possible strikes, etc., any such conditions 
might cause delays in armor deliveries that would cause embarrassment at 
critical times or involve charges for delay on the part of the shipbuilders for 
nondelivery of material. 

15. For these reasons, “ having in view the best results and most expeditious 
delivery,” the Bureau recommends that 50 per cent of the total amount of 
armor required be awarded to the Midvale Steel Company and that 25 per cent 
be awarded to each of the other companies, the Bethlehem Steel Company and 
the Carnegie Steel Company, provided the latter companies agree to furnish this 
armor at the price given by the lowest bidder, or, in other words, that the Mid¬ 
vale Steel Company he awarded the contract for supplying all the armor, etc., 
for one battle ship, aggregating about 3.694 tons, and that each of the other two 
companies, the Bethlehem Steel Company and the Carnegie Steel Company, be 
awarded one-half of the armor for the other ship, amounting to about 1,847 tons, 
provided they agree to accept the price of the lowest bidder. 

N. E. Mason, 

Chief of Bureau of Ordnance. 

This recommendation met with the approval of the Navy Department, and the 
contracts for armor were so awarded, approximately 3,694 tons being awarded 
the Midvale Steel Company and 1,847 tons each to'.tlie Bethlehem Steel Com¬ 
pany and Carnegie Steel Company. 

At present date the Bethlehem and Carnegie Steel companies have completed 
the deliveries of all armor due under previous contracts except a few “ shutter” 
plates, delayed awaiting templates to be furnished them, which delay is beyond 


81 


tlieii control, and a few sighting hoods. Both firms have commenced the manu¬ 
facture of the armor awarded them by the contracts of last August. 

Theie lemains at present date to he delivered hy the Midvale Steel Company 
approximately 1,250 tons, under contract of December 15, 1903, and 1.000 tons 
(all) under contract of April 5, 1905. The Bureau has as yet received no notice 
that the manufacture of armor under the contract of last August has begun. 

The possible imposition of penalties suggested above in paragraph 8 of Bureau 
of Ordnance indorsement has not been necessary. 

The Midvale Steel Company has been granted, under the terms of its con¬ 
tracts and since the award of the contracts last August, forty-eight days’ exten¬ 
sion of time tor required deliveries of armor due under its previous contracts 
as a reasonable consideration for unavoidable delays due to the breaking down 
ot certain machines. This illustrates such a contingency as was considered by 
the Bureau of Ordnance when it made its recommendation for the award of the 
armor contracts. “ having in view the best results and most expeditious de¬ 
livery.” 


Appendix C. 


Joint Army and Navy Board on Smokeless Powder, 

Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, 

Washington, D. C., September 26, 1906. 

Sir.: 1. Following an earlier report, dated August 1, 1900, forwarding revised 
specifications for the manufacture of smokeless powder, the Joint Army and 
Navy Board on Smokeless Powder submits the following report, dealing with 
the price which should he paid private manufacturers for smokeless powder 
for cannon to be made for the Government in accordance with the specifica¬ 
tions above referred to. In arriving at the price hereinafter recommended the 
Board carefully considered all data which it could obtain, including the actual 
cost of manufacturing powder at the Naval Powder Factory at Indian Head, 
Md., and statements and information presented by the powder makers who 
were afforded an opportunity to appear before it to discuss the subject in¬ 
volved, to present their views as to the cost of manufacture, and to answer the 
questions of the board. 

2. The price charged for smokeless powder for some years past has been 70 
cents per pound, exclusive of the cost of the alcohol used, which heretofore 
has been supplied by the Government. The actual price paid, including the 
cost of the alcohol, has thus been approximately 74 cents per pound. Taking 
the figures furnished by the Naval Powder Factory for the cost of raw material 
and labor and accepting its estimate as to maintenance, depreciation, and fire 
loss, the cost of a pound of powder, based upon an output of 1,000,000 pounds, 
which is approximately the yearly output of that factory working night and 
day, is 54.G cents. By adding the interest on capital invested in grounds, 
buildings, and machinery, the interest on capital invested at any time in 
material on hand, powder in process of manufacture, and powder in dry 
houses, taxes, administrative expenses not considered in the data furnished 
from the Naval Gun Factory, profit, etc., the price per pound is increased from 
54.0 cents to approximately 09 cents. In the judgment of the Board it is 
probable that the experience of the private manufacturers enables them to 
cheapen the cost of production at certain points and that the actual cost of 
their powder is somewhat less than that of the Naval Powder Factory. Such 
advantage as they may gain here, however, is probably offset by expenses to 
which they are subject for pensions in the case of employees killed or injured 
in their works, by damages exacted by neighboring property owners, and by 
other expenses necessarily incident to the manufacture of powder. 

From an economical standpoint a Government powder factory has advan¬ 
tages, some of which are the following: Smaller salaries for administrative 
officers, plant probably worked to full capacity while those of existing private 
manufacturers have been generally worked much below their maximum capac- ^ 
ity as a result of limited orders. These advantages are, however, offset, in a 
measure, by a labor day of eight hours, while the labor day of private manufac¬ 
turers is ten hours, and by the expense incident to a large number of holidays 
during the year for which the Government employees are given full pay. 

It is considered probable also that private manufacturers have an advantage 
over the Government in the purchase of raw materials; but this subject is a 


n p —07 


6 




82 


difficult one to investigate, and the board lias no accurate information concern¬ 
ing it. 

Based upon all data at its disposal, the board is of the opinion that a price of 
60 cents per pound is a fair one to be paid private manufacturers for smokeless 
powder, the manufacturers to furnish their own alcohol. The board considers 
that the arrangement under which the Government .has heretofore supplied the 
alcohol to the manufacturers has many disadvantages, and recommends that in 
future it be abandoned and that manufacturers be required to supply their own 
alcohol, which may be removed from bond free of duty under proper regulations 
of the Treasury Department. 

3. In view of the more economical operation of the plants engaged in the pro¬ 
duction of smokeless powders for cannon when operated at approximately their 
full capacity, it is the opinion of the board that the above price of 61) cents per 
pound should be considered as applying only to the existing plants when the 
orders received from the Government are not in^he aggregate sufficient to 
enable them to operate to their full capacity. The board therefore recom¬ 
mends that when the aggregate of the orders of the Government to the four fol¬ 
lowing powder plants, the only ones now equipped to manufacture smokeless 
powder for the Government, viz, The E. I. Du Pont Company, The International 
Smokeless Powder and Chemical Company, The Laflin & Band Powder Com¬ 
pany, and the California Powder Works, exceeds 4,000,000 pounds, all powedrs 
ordered or contracted for in any given year in excess of 4.000.000 pounds be 
paid for at price of 65 cents per pound, the manufacturers to furnish the 
alcohol. 

4. A duplicate of this report has been forwarded to the Chief of Ordnance, 
United States Army. 

Very respectfully, Austin M. Knight, 

Commander , U. 8. Navi/, President of Board. 

A. C. Dieffenbach, 
Commander, U. 8. Navy, (Retired). 

B. W. Dunn, 

Major, Ordnance Department , XJ. 8. Army. 

C. P». Wheeler, 

Major, Ordnance Department, U. 8. Army. 


The Chief of Bureau of Ordnance, 

Navy Department, Washington , D. C. 


John Halligan, Jr., 
Lieutenant, U. 8. Navy. 


[No. 3.] 


BUREAU OF SUPPLIES AND ACCOUNTS—STATEMENT OF REAR- 

ADMIRAL EUSTACE B. ROGERS, CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF 

SUPPLIES AND ACCOUNTS, NAVY DEPARTMENT. 

Committee on Naval Affairs, 

House of Representatives, 
Tuesday , December 11,1906. 

The committee met at 10.30 o’clock a. m., Hon. George E. Foss 
(chairman) in the chair. 

The Chairman. We start in with your Bureau, on page 4, “ Pay, 
miscellaneous. For commissions and interest.” What are those 
commissions on ? 

Admiral Rogers. The commissions are upon the money that is 
transmitted to London to be drawn against by the paymasters on 
foreign stations. We get interest on daily balances, and we pay them 
a commission. 

The Chairman. What interest, 2 per cent a year ? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes; last year the interest was greater than the 
commissions by about $500. 

The Chairman. The next is: 

Transportation of funds; exchange; mileage to officers while traveling under 
orders in the United States, and for actual personal expenses of officers while 
traveling abroad under orders, etc. 

That language is substantially the same all the way down through 
as last year, except this year you are asking for $700,000 instead of 
$650,000, an increase of $50,000. Will you kindly explain the neces¬ 
sity for that? 

Admiral Rogers. That is based upon the increased demand and the 
fact that last year’s appropriation has been overobligated $16,514.98. 

The Chairman. Are you asking for a deficiency this year ? 

Admiral Rogers. Probably the Secretary will; I can not say. 

The Chairman. What is the largest item of expenditure in that 
paragraph? 

Admiral Rogers. In pay, miscellaneous. 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Admiral Rogers. Mileage and transportation of officers and civil¬ 
ian employees. 

The Chairman. Can you furnish us a statement showing just 
what you have expended for these general items during the last year? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes; I have it here in rough form. 

The Chairman. I wish you would place it in your hearing. We 
will be glad to look it over. 

Admiral Rogers. I suppose, Mr. Chairman, you do not want that 
accurate to the cent. It is an estimate, very fairly close. 


83 


84 

The Chairman. We would like to have what it was for the last 
fiscal year, ending June 30. 

Admiral Rogers. Then I will send it to you. 

The Chairman. Then we will pass over to the Bureau of Sup¬ 
plies and Accounts, page 127. The first is: 

Provisions, Navy: For provisions and commuted rations for the seamen and 
marines, which commuted rations may be paid to caterers of messes, in case 
of death or desertion, upon orders of the commanding officers, commuted 
rations for officers on sea duty, etc. 

The language there is the same until we get down to page 128, and 
then we have: 

Six thousand United States Army emergency rations, two thousand two 
hundred and twenty dollars. 

What are those for? 

Admiral Rogers. They were added to the estimates by order of the 
Secretary of the Navy. They were in last year’s estimates with his 
approval. His letter directed that they should be, “ one-half to be 
stored in Olongapo and one-half to be stored at a navy-yard on the 
Atlantic coast to be designated later by the Department.” 

The Chairman. How long will these rations keep? 

Admiral Rogers. They will keep practically for all time, sir. 
There is no limit to the time. I brought one of them here to show 
you [producing emergency ration]. 

The Chairman. How much do they cost now ? 

Admiral Rogers. About 37 cents. That is the army emergency 
ration. 

Mr. Padgett. Mr. Chairman, last year did not the official head of 
this department testify that these emergency rations were utterly 
useless and a waste of money? 

Admiral Rogers. He was asked the same question that you asked 
me, and he stated, just as I have, that they were put in by order of 
the Secretary. The chairman asked him if he thought they were of 
much use, and he said he did not think they were. 

The Chairman. That is my recollection, that he expressed it very 
strongly that it was a waste of money to include them. 

Admiral Rogers. I do not think he put it as strongly as that; but 
I think I can justify them; not this particular 6,000, but when you 
come to the next item, to the 75,000 that are asked for, I think they 
can be fully justified, and I want to explain to the committee just 
why they are asked for. 

The Chairman. You are asking an increase here from $5,220,000 
to $6,490,000, an increase of nearly $1,200,000. What is the neces¬ 
sity for that ? 

Admiral Rogers. That is based upon two things—the contemplated 
increase in the Navy of 3,000 men, making the present 37,000 aug¬ 
mented to 40,000, and the increased cost of the ration due to the 
changes of the last appropriation act, which has materially increased 
the cost of the ration, and the ration costs now, at an average, as far 
as can be judged, 35 cents, and 40,000 rations at 35 cents for 1908 is 
$5,420,000. Then in addition there are 3,700 marines who are sub¬ 
sisted on ships, and the marine on the ship draws navy rations. That 
amounts to $473,970. Then there are chaplains, boatswains, car¬ 
penters, midshipmen at the academy and at sea who still draw the 


85 


commuted ration and who are not on navy pay, and they number 
1,828^ and those rations, at 80 cents per diem, would amount to 
$200,714.40. The estimate which was submitted to you by the Secre¬ 
tary, made up by Paymaster-General Harris, estimated those 1,828 
rations at 35 cents. I have reduced it, making a difference of $33,000 
less than his estimate. 

The Chairman. You had enough money last year, did you? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes; plenty. 

The Chairman. If we should not give this increase of 3,000 men, if 
we allowed you the same amount that you had last year—$5,220,000— 
would that be sufficient ? 

Admiral Rogers. No, sir. 

The Chairman. Why would it not, if there is no increase in the 
number of men ? 

Admiral Rogers. Because if there is no increase of men the 3,700 
marines on ships and the 37,000 men, which does not provide for an 
increase, and estimating 35 cents as the cost of the ration, it would 
amount to $5,414,384.40, which is more than your total appropriation 
of last year. That is at 35 cents to the ration instead of 30 cents, as 
it has been heretofore. When you asked Paymaster-General Harris 
last year what would be the cost of the new ration he said probably 
33 cents. 

The Chairman. If we did not allow these 3,000 additional men, 
$5,414,000 would be sufficient, would it? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes. Say, $5,445,000, to make it even, or 
$5,420,000. 

The Chairman. Suppose we allowed a thousand additional men, 
what would the increase be ? 

Admiral Rogers. That I will have to calculate. 

Mr. Padgett. He has estimated for 3,000 increase, and if you take 
one-third of that estimated increase you will get what it will be for 
1,000 men. 

The Chairman. It will be one-third of the estimated increase? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes. I did not make that calculation. 

The Chairman. You say $5,414,000. You are asking for $6,490,- 
000. There is a million dollars difference. 

Admiral Rogers. There are other items which must be added. 
This $5,414,000 is simply for food and commuted rations. That does 
not include the labor in general storehouses, on which the estimate this 
year was $655,000. The amount actually being used this year is 
$641,000. 

The Chairman. “ Labor in general storehouses ” is all included in 
this paragraph, and was included here last year? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir. But this calculation that I gave you, 
$5,414,000, is for food and commuted rations only. 

The Chairman. For food only? 

Admiral Rogers. And includes commuted rations. 

The Chairman. Are you increasing the labor in the general store¬ 
houses ? 

Admiral Rogers. We are not increasing it. I have asked for an 
increase. Paymaster-General Harris has put the labor in general 
storehouses this coming year at $655,000. 

The Chairman. HoVv much was it last year? 


86 


Admiral Rogers. I do not remember what his estimate was last 
year, but the allotment this year is $641,000. That is what we are 
using to-day, for this current year, and that will last until the 30th 
of next June. The amount used for 1906 I have not got here. That 
is 1907. 

The Chairman. I wish you would furnish a statement of the 
amount expended under these different general headings, like labor 
in general storehouses, and so forth. 

Admiral Rogers. I think that is in last year’s report, the allot¬ 
ment for that year; that is, for 1906. I have here the allotment for 
1907; that is the distribution which Admiral Harris has made in all 
our navy-yards and stations of the world—in the United States and 
on foreign stations. 

The Chairman. I would like to have a statement in connection 
with all of these paragraphs, showing, for instance, the provisions 
in regard to commuted rations for seamen and marines, commuted 
rations for officers on sea duty, and so on. 

Admiral Rogers. That I have just given you. 

The Chairman. We want that information under these general 
headings, so if questions are asked on the floor, as they frequently 
are, we can point out where the expenditure has been made. 

Admiral Rogers. There is one difference in the estimate this year 
from what it was in previous years. The estimates for previous 
years have been based on the cost of the ration at 30 cents, which 
is the legal cost of commutation. 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Admiral Rogers. This year there is a recommendation before the 
Secretary of the Navy to stop all commutation of rations at sea, on 
seagoing ships, and in that case it will make the ration cost 35 
cents. There will be no more issues at 30 cents in cash. So all I 
can tell you is what was paid for commutation last year; that is, 
for the fiscal year 1906. We are now operating under this act, and 
will be until next June. 

The Chairman. Yes. If we should allow an increase of 1,000 
men, then we must figure on a ration at 35 or 40 cents ? 

Admiral Rogers. Thirty-five cents. 

The Chairman. Thirty-five cents? 

Admiral Rogers. I consider that will be sufficient. 

The Chairman. For a thousand men that would not be very much. 
That would only be $350 a day. 

Mr. Padgett. That 35 cents is the ration for one day ? 

The Chairman. Yes; for one day. 

Admiral Rogers. For the year that would be $128.10. One thou¬ 
sand times that is $128,100. That is just what the increase would be. 

The Chairman. Per thousand men ? 

Admiral Rogers. Per thousand men, at 35 cents per ration, for 
three hundred and sixty-six days. 

The Chairman. You say the food will cost $5,414,000 ? 

Admiral Rogers. Without any increase in men; yes, sir; and in¬ 
cluding commuted rations. 

The Chairman. Without any increase of men? 

Admiral Rogers. The food‘and commuted rations for officers at 
sea. 


87 

The Chairman. 1 on say that does not take into consideration the 
general labor in storehouses? 

Admiral Rogers. No. 

The Chairman. That this last year was $600,000? 

Admiral Rogers. During the current year, $641,000, or $641,496. 

The Chairman. That would make $6,054,000. You have asked for 
$6,490,000. That for the 3,000 additional men would be $384,000. 
Altogether it would be $6,438,000. I see how you figure it. Have 
you an unexpended balance, or will you have this year? 

Admiral Rogers. I think it likely we will. 

The Chairman. Have you had in previous years unexpended bal¬ 
ances under this? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes; I think in every year. 

The Chairman. Would you kindly furnish a statement of the un¬ 
expended balance, all that could be reappropriated? 

Admiral Rogers. Our unexpended balance for the fiscal year 1906 
is $632,000. 

The Chairman. What was it the year before that? 

Admiral Rogers. That I can not give you. 

The Chairman. I wish you would find out what the unexpended 
balance is, because those amounts have been appropriated for this 
particular purpose once, and they have been charged up to the Navy, 
and there is no reason in the world why they should not be reappro¬ 
priated, if they have not been used, and in that way we can cut down 
our present appropriation. 

Admiral Rogers. No doubt. I asked this figure before leaving the 
Bureau, and they told me that was correct to a cent—$632,843.58 is 
the unappropriated balance for the fiscal year 1906. 

The Chairman. How is the new ration working? 

Admiral Rogers. Very well indeed. It has not worked itself out 
as yet so that we can get an idea of the cost. We will not know that 
until the next quarter. We have only one quarter’s returns in—that 
is the quarter ending in September—and that gives us nothing on 
which to base a true conclusion. This estimate of 35 cents is that of 
my predecessor, and I have accepted it. 

The Chairman. The next item is on page 132. 

Provisions, Navy, emergency rations: For the purchase of seventy-five thou¬ 
sand United States Army emergency rations, thirty thousand dollars. 

That is a new item. 

Admiral Rogers. That was put in the estimates on the order of the 
Secretary of the Navy, and it is for the purpose of supplying to 
ships what is called “ for abandon ship.” We have a monthly drill 
on shipboard for the eventualities of wreck, in which every boat in 
the ship is fitted out with her entire outfit of arms, instruments, and 
food, and every man that would go into her, and she leaves the ship, 
so that the ship is absolutely without anyone on board. That is a 
monthly drill. 

Now, instead of using dummies for that drill, as is done in the 
British navy, we use an actual ration—that is, bread and meat. 
Those two articles are put in the boats. You can well imagine that 
in a cutter, for instance, with 35 or 40 men on board the amount of 
food for five days will be very bulky, and these emergency rations 
are recommended for the purpose of taking the place of those 

abandon ship ”, rations, which are separated from the rations of 


88 


the ship, every box being marked and stowed in a particular place, 
and in a very handy place, so that in case of wreck of the ship they 
can be put instantly into the boats when the ship is abandoned. 
The consequence is that there is a large amount of bulk and weight 
in the boats, which contain the crew and officers, when the ship is 
abandoned, and also during those drills a large destruction of pro¬ 
visions naturally occurs, because those provisions that are being so 
handled once a month are more or less broken and destroyed and 
they go to waste and are a loss every year. 

The idea is to put 75,000 of those emergency rations in place of 
the other rations, and the gain will be very great. They cost but 
2 or so cents more than the regular ration we ask you to appropriate 
for, and the saving will be quite 90 per cent in volume and 80 per 
cent in weight. And I hope that the committee will see its way 
to including those emergency rations. 

The Chairman. Are these the same rations that you speak of— 
these 6,000 United States Army emergency rations? 

Admiral Rogers. They are the same ration. 

The Chairman. They are the same? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes. 

The Chairman. If we allowed these 75,000 rations, I presume you 
could get along without the 6,000 ? 

Admiral Rogers. I would rather that you would ask Admiral 
Dewey, when he comes before you, in regard to those 6,000 rations. 

I am not prepared to state that they are no good. I think they are. 

The Chairman. Does that recommendation come from the Gen¬ 
eral Board? 

Admiral Rogers. From the General Board. 

The Chairman. I am speaking of this provision for emergency 
rations on page 132 of the bill. 

Admiral Rogers. That comes also from the Secretary and from the 
General Board. 

The Chairman. From the General Board also? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes. 

Mr. Padgett. What is in that general ration, can you tell ? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes; it is composed of a bread and meat com¬ 
ponent and a chocolate component. It is also made up with a 
coffee component, and it is supposed to feed one man for one day 
and to give him food and drink. It is calculated to subsist one man 
for one day, maintaining his full strength. This is stated in detail 
on the label. 

Mr. Padgett. Did I understand you to say a moment ago that in 
this “ abandon ship ” exercise every man got off the ship ? 

Admiral Rogers. Every man leaves the ship; yes, sir. 

Mr. Padgett. What is done with the ship? 

Admiral Rogers. This is done when the ship is at anchor, and I 
have seen a ship left without a man on her, except a few on watch 
in engine and dynamo rooms. 

Mr. Padgett. The ship is anchored ? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes; the ship is at anchor in harbor. This drill 
is very rarely performed in a seaway, although I have seen it done 
when the ship was underway. It is a regular monthly drill. The 
order is given, and every man takes his place opposite the boat. It 
is a drill on all our ships. Then every man goes to his boat and does 


89 


what he would do in case the ship was an actual wreck. We put on 
the small boats, the arms, ammunition, a compass, instruments, fish 
hooks and lines, tools, food, and water, and so forth. 

The Chairman. The next paragraph is “ Contingent, Bureau of 
Supplies and Accounts.” You are asking for an increase of $15,000'$ 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. From $160,000 to $175,000. What is the neces¬ 
sity for that? 

Admiral Rogers. You have not the Secretary’s estimates trans¬ 
posed here, with the change in verbiage ? 

The Chairman. Yes; we have the “interior fittings.” The new 
language is in italics. 

Admiral Rogers. The reason of that was my own suggestion to 
the Secretary of the Navy. When the Bureau of Yards and Docks 
puts up a building for us it is built according to contract. They will 
make any repairs in gutters, plumbing, and floors, partitions, and so 
on, but when it comes to shelving and such changes that take place 
inside of a building they have refused to allow the money for that. 
This “ contingent ” has been used for that purpose, but 1 want the 
authority of law, so that there can be no possible question about it. 
That is the reason I asked the Secretary simply to authorize an ex¬ 
isting condition. 

The Chairman. Has there been any dispute with the Comptroller 
about it ? 

Admiral Rogers. No; never. 

The Chairman. There never has been? 

Admiral Rogers. The point has never been raised, but the appli¬ 
cation came to me to approve an expenditure of $400 for Mare Island., 
and I refused to approve it until I had talked with the Secretary 
about it, and he suggested, if I had any scruples about it, to ask the 
committee to put it in the act. That is all. It is simply that I was 
a little doubtful about it. 

The Chairman. Would these words, “interior fittings,” give you 
any right to put in anything which you have not done before? 

Admiral Rogers. None whatever. “ Interior fittings ” means 
shelves, closets, gratings to shut off certain places where stores are 
stowed so that people shall not have access to them—things of that 
kind that the Bureau of Yards and Docks have declined to allow us, 
and have compelled us to stand out of the appropriation of the 
Bureau; and it has always been done out of the appropriation for 
contingent, and there is no question about it. The committee knows 
what it is used for. 

The Chairman. Last year you had $160,000. 

Admiral Rogers. Yes. 

The Chairman. There is no deficiency this year? 

Admiral Rogers. No, sir; there will be a balance. 

The Chairman. A balance left over ? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. About how much ? 

Admiral Rogers. About $10,000. 

The Chairman. Would not that be enough—if you get the same 
appropriation as last year, would not that be sufficient to carry you 
through ? 

Admiral Rogers. What is left over from 1906 is $11,800. 


90 


The Chairman. Could you reduce your estimate at all ? 

Admiral Rogers. I would not like to, because there are other mat¬ 
ters which, if you wish me to, I will state, and I will .give you the 
reason why I do not want to reduce it—why I asked the $15,000 in 
addition. I see that you have not got this in italics here, although it 
is a new item, “ coffee mills and repairs thereto.” That is new. 

The Chairman. What is the reason for that ? 

Admiral Rogers. The reason is the same as that for the “interior 
fittings.” We have a coffee mill at New York which supplies all the 
coffee for the entire service. We ship it all over the world. We can 
roast, grind, and ship it more economically than we can buy it—at a 
less cost to the Government, and the men are accustomed to it, and we 
have a mill there from which we supply all the coffee for the service. 
That mill is very old and is worn out, and I want to put in a new one 
at a cost of about $5,000, which will be included in this appropriation. 
This was based on my experience in the Cuban affair. 1 w T as then the 
general storekeeper at Boston, and I had two ships to fit out, and 1 
had foreseen this emergency and had a large quantity of coffee on 
hand. 

The Chairman. You have had a coffee mill heretofore, and have 
been running it? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir; and have been repairing it under this 
appropriation. 

The Chairman. And you have been repairing it under this appro¬ 
priation? Under what appropriation did you first purchase that 
coffee mill ? 

Admiral Rogers. I presume under the same appropriation, be¬ 
cause it has been there for a number of years—ten or twelve years 
or more. 

The Chairman. Will you furnish us a statement of all of these 
items here for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1906—that is, for in¬ 
stance, what you paid out for expressage, and so on, and the expenses 
of this naval clothing factory, and all of it ? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes; I can give you an estimate of some of 
those things now. 

The Chairman. Put that in your hearing, if you will, because we 
may be asked about those things on the floor. 

Admiral Rogers. I only want to say, to continue what I was stat¬ 
ing, that we found this coffee mill broke down right in the middle 
of this Cuban affair, and we had but 14,000 pounds of coffee in New 
York. That was a warning. 

The Chairman. How much will a new coffee mill cost? 

Admiral Rogers. Five thousand dollars. 

The Chairman. How many will you want ? 

Admiral Rogers. One; that will give us an output of 5,000 pounds 
daily. 1 

The Chairman. You say this is the most economical way to get 
the coffee ? J & 

• ^ 0GERS - Oh? far and away. That coffee we can deliver 

mChina, including the cost of transportation, for 13 cents a pound. 

The Chairman. How much would it cost if you had to buy it 2 

Admiral Rogers. Not less than 21 cents to 23 cents, or more. 


91 


The Chairman. The next item is: 

Freight, Bureau of Supplies and Accounts: All freight charges pertaining to 
the Navy Department and its bureaus, except the transportation of coal for the 
Bureau of Equipment, five hundred thousand dollars. 

Last year you had $400,000. Here you are asking for an increase 
of $100,000. 

Admiral Rogers. You allowed us a deficiency of $75,000 in the act 
of February 27, 1906. We are only asking for the coming year 
$25,000 more than that deficiency. 

The Chairman. How are you coming out this year with that 
$75,000? J 

Admiral Rogers. I think we will come out with a small deficiency, 
possibly even, and if short, not to a large amount. The Navy is 
increasing, Mr. Chairman, and $25,000 in addition to last year’s ap¬ 
propriation and the deficiency is not a very great sum. 

The Chairman. It says here, “ except the transportation of coal 
for the Bureau of Equipment.” Do you know what that amounts to 
in the Bureau of Equipment? 

Admiral Rogers. No, sir. 

The Chairman. That is all done by colliers, I suppose? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes; and merchant ships. The Chief of the Bu¬ 
reau of Equipment will give you that. 

The Chairman. Yes. Under “ freight charges,” I suppose your 
provisions are the things that you freight the most of? 

Admiral Rogers. No, sir; we pay the freight on every movement of 
stores for the entire service, except expressage. Freight on every¬ 
thing that is shipped is paid by the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, 
except express charges—a small sum each year. 

The Chairman. Those charges are paid by the different bureaus? 

Admiral Rogers. By the different bureaus; yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Now we come to “ Civil establishment, Bureau of 
Supplies and Accounts.” That seems to be the same as last year. 
There are a few added here. 

Mr. Roberts. Before you pass by page 133 I would like to ask the 
Admiral a question or two. 

The Chairman. Very well. 

Mr. Roberts. You have a stenographer in the general storekeeper’s 
house in Boston, have you not ? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Roberts. You have to loan that stenographer about one month 
in the year to the court-martial board? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Roberts. What effect does that have upon your business? 

Admiral Rogers. It affects us somewhat. It simply shortens our 
work that much. We have more than one stenographer there. We 
have three, two stenographers and a typewriter. 

Mr. Roberts. It would not affect you as much as some bureaus 
that have only one, then ? 

Admiral Rogers. It does affect us, and I have protested to the 
commandant, but only verbally. Mr. Snow, the naval constructor, 
did so officially. 

Mr. Roberts. I have heard considerable complaint of that system 
there. It hampers the work. 


92 


Admiral Rogers. It is properly chargeable to “ Pay, miscellaneous, 
expenses of courts-martial,” and the expense of a typewriter should 
be paid from “ Pay, miscellaneous; ” but their services are distrib¬ 
uted, equally divided, among the bureaus there, in proportion to 
their facilities, during the session of the court-martial. 

Mr. Roberts. I understand that the system there is to take the 
stenographer out of each bureau a month at a time, and the court- 
martial is almost in continuous session there ?' 

Admiral Rogers. Practically, yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The only change I see is on page 138. The old law 
read u one shipping and bill clerk,” and you have changed it to read 
“ one receiving and shipping clerk, one thousand four hundred dol¬ 
lars,” an increase of $200. I)o you wish the name of the clerk 
changed? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. You are asking for an increase. That is at 
Cavite ? 

Admiral Rogers. That increase is made upon the recommendation 
of the general storekeeper there. The expenses are growing in the 
Philippine Islands since the American occupation. 

The Chairman. Are the clerks paid more over there in Cavite than 
at home? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir; as they always have been in California 
for very many years, on account of the increased cost of living. 

The Chairman. You are asking also “ one lumber inspector, at one 
thousand dollars; one expert packer, at nine hundred dollars.” That 
is at Cavite? 

Admiral Rogers. That was before the committee last year, and the 
correspondence is all contained in the last year’s testimony. It was 
approved then by the Secretary and is again approved by him this 
year. 

The Chairman. Do you secure these men in this country, or do you 
take Filipinos out there? 

Admiral Rogers. No, sir; they are generally white men, under the 
classified service, and sent out from this country. In fact, I am safe 
in saying that they all are. 

The Chairman. On page 139 is the next: 

Naval training station, Great Lakes: In general storehouse: One clerk, one 
thousand dollars; in all, one thousand dollars. 

Do you need a clerk there now ? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir; we do. That station is being estab¬ 
lished and its work is growing. The clerk who is there now is paid 
out of the appropriation “ Provisions, Navy.” It is simply trans¬ 
ferring him. He is paid under “ Labor in general storehouses,” and 
this transfers him to the civil establishment, where he belongs, and the 
same is true of the naval station at Guantanamo. Those clerks ex¬ 
ist there, and they are paid out of the “ Labor in general storehouses,” 
so that if this is allowed in the civil establishment “ Labor in general 
storehouses ” may be reduced just that much. 

The Chairman. You have a clerk at the Rhode Island training 
station, have you? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. And also at California ? 


93 


Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. So that you are asking for no more at those sta¬ 
tions than you have for the others? 

Admiral Rogers. I do not exactly see the bearing of your question 
in regard to California and Newport. 

The Chairman. I wanted to see where they were—whether they 
were provided out of any fund. 

Admiral Rogers. These clerks? 

The Chairman. Yes. 


Admiral Rogers. These clerks are now on this duty, and paid, as 
I say, out of “ Labor in general storehouses.” They are all paid by the 
United States. 

The Chairman. They are all paid in that way? 

Admiral Rogers. Yes, sir; the point is that they belong in the civil 
establishment. 

Mr. Roberts. It is a question of which fund they should be paid 
out of? 

Admiral Rogers. They are now paid out of “ Provisions,” and if 
this is allowed the fund “ Labor in general storehouses ” will be re¬ 
duced by just that much. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Naval station, Guantanamo, Cuba.” 

Admiral Rogers. That is the same: “ One stenographer, at four 
dollars per diem,” and “ one store man, at three dollars and four cents 
per diem.” 

The Chairman. You have all these at the present time? 

Admiral Rogers. These are there now, and are paid out of “ Labor 
in general storehouses.” 

The Chairman. I guess this covers your Bureau. 

Admiral Rogers. That is all, sir. I would like to say one thing 
more. Although I have included, under direction of the Secretary, 
75,000 rations for “ abandon-ship ” purposes—75,000 emergency ra¬ 
tions—I do not think that will be sufficient. If we have 30,000 men 
afloat in the Navy that will only give two and one-half rations to each 
man, which is not enough, and although I would very much prefer 
that this should be made a separate appropriation, if the committee 
is going to allow it, I will sa} T this, that if the committee is not will¬ 
ing to allow this $32,220 and will incorporate in the general terms 
of the act the authority to buy them—that is, under the caption 
of provisions, and will permit the purchase of, say, 100,000, or not 
more than 100,000, emergency rations, I think I can buy them with¬ 
out any extra sum being appropriated. 

(At 11.40 o’clock a. m. the committee adjourned until to-morrow, 
Wednesday, December 12, 1906, at 10.30 o’clock a. m.) 


A. 

PROVISIONS, NAVY. 

37,000 enlisted men of the Navy (as at present) ; 3,700 marines 
on ships—subsisted by the Navy; 40,700 in all, at 35 cents 

per ration for 366 days (leap year)-$5, 213, 670. 00 

1,828 officers—commuted rations therefor 30 cents each, for 366 
days _ 200, 714. 40 





94 


Labor in general storehouses_ $055, 000. 00 

75,000 -f- 6,000=81,000 emergency rations at 37 cents each (75,- 
000 estimated, at 40 cents)_ 32,220.00 


Total _ 6, 101, 604. 40 

If 3,000 additional men allowed_ 384, 300. 00 


Total will he___ 0, 485, 004. 40 

If 1,000 additional men allowed, total will be- 6, 220, 704. 40 


B. 

If $300,000 of balance of “ Provisions, Navy,” for 1005 and $500,000 of bal¬ 
ance of same appropriation for 1006 be reappropriated, the estimates may be 
reduced as follows, each by $800,000: 

For 37,000 men, 3.700 marines (subsisted by the Navy), and 

commuted rations for 1,828 officers_$4. 614, 384. 40 

For 3,000 additional men. otherwise as above_ 4, 998. 684. 40 

For 1,000 additional men_ 4, 742, 484. 40 

To whichever sum is finally decided on should be added the amount for 
labor in general storehouses. 


C. 

PROVISIONS, NAVY, 1907. 

Allotment for labor in general storehouses during present fiscal year. 

Portsmouth_$23, 000. 00 

Boston_ 70, 000. 00 

Torpedo station_ 7,461.92 

Training station, Newport_ 2, 600. 00 • 

New York_ 215,000.00 

League Island_ 36, 500. 00 

Naval Academy_ 5, 486. 57 

Washington_ 18,000.00 

Norfolk_ 58, 000. 00 

Pensacola_ 15, 500. 00 

New Orleans_ 7, 590. 60 

Mare Island_ 75, 000. 00 

Training station, California_ 2, 553. 92 

Puget Sound- 18, 500. 00 

Guantanamo_ 3, 504. 16 

San Juan- 5, 653, 80 

Cavite- .57, 000. 00 

Guam_ 11, 000. 00 

Honolulu- 1, 500. 00 

Olongapo- 6, 646. 00 


Total 


640, 496. 97 





































95 


D. 

CIVIL ESTABLISHMENTS, BUREAU OF SUPPLIES AND ACCOUNTS, 190S. 

Per diem employees. 



313 days. 

314 days. 

New York: 

2 receiving clerks, at $4. 

$2,504.00 
1,565.00 
4,319.40 
939. 00 
1,020.38 
782.50 
626.00 
704.25 
1,252.00 
704.25 
46.06 

$2,512.00 
1,570.00 
4,333.20 
942.00 
1,023. 64 
785.00 
628.00 
706.50 
1,256.00 
706.50 

2 leading men, at $2.50. 

5 pressmen, at $2.76. 

1 box maker, at $3. 

1 engine tender, at $3.26. 

1 coffee roaster, at $2.50. 

1 fireman, at $2... 

1 messenger, at $2.25. 

1 cloth inspector, at $4. 

1 messenge'r, at $2.25. 

Difference. 

Total. 


14,462. 84 

14,462.84 



Expenditures under appropriation “ Pay , miscellaneous ,” for the fiscal year 1906. 


Mileage and transportation of officers and civilian employees_$434, 976. 03 

Net loss on exchange_ 21, 340. 94 

Telegrams, cablegrams, and postage_ 37, 508. 58 

Transportation of funds_ 1. 592. 37 

Expenses of boards_ 6, 542. 48 

Telephone service_ 1. 909. 59 

Expenses of navy pay offices_ 110, 623. 29 

Expenses of prisons and prisoners, court-martial expenses, etc_ 17,072.62 

Advertising _ 502. 01 

Dispatch agent. New York and London_ 1.829.93 

Naval attaches_’_ 12,875.05 

Miscellaneous _ 6. 344. 82 

Estimate for mileage, transportation, and other miscellaneous items 
not paid or adjusted by the Auditor, added to arrive at balance 
shown by liability record_ 13, 397. 27 


Total _ 666, 514. 98 

Appropriation for fiscal year 1906_ 650, 000. 00 


Overobligated _ 16,514.98 

Unexpended balance of fiscal year— 

1905_ 6, 248. 79 

1904_ 22, 597. 59 

1903_ 10, 773. 24 

1902_ 9, 320. 16 


PROVISIONS, NAVY, 1906. 

Statement of estimated expenditures under above appropriation. 
Purchase of provisions at yards and stations and by pay officers 


afloat_$2, 305, 956. 52 

Rations commuted_ 1* 561, 032. 50 

Labor in general storehouses- 620, 167. 40 


Total -- 4,487,156.42 

Balance _ a 732, 843. 58 


Appropriated for fiscal year 1906- 5, 220, 000. 00 


a From the balance shown above, it is estimated that about $100,000 should 
be deducted to cover rations due to men in hospitals and hospital apprentices 
on duty at hospitals, to be charged to this appropriation and credited to the 
naval hospital fund upon final settlement by the auditor of pay officers’ ac¬ 
counts, information as to the actual sum of these charges being not available 
at the present time. 


























































96 


Unexpended balance for fiscal year— 


1904 _ n 72 - 28 

1903 _ _ a 244 - 53 

1P02 _ & 550, 171. 61 

CONTINGENT SUPPLIES AND ACCOUNTS, 1906. 

Statement of estimated expenditures under above appropriation for each of the 
principal separate items which make up this appropriation. 

Expressage _ $169. 46 

Fuel_ 1, 822 - 96 

Books, blank, and stationery— 


- 36, 499. 96 

Advertising_ 686. 83 

Furniture for general storehouses and pay offices in navy-yards- 14, 910. 99 

Expenses of naval clothing factory and machinery for same (in¬ 
cludes 50,000 yards enameled cloth)_ 12,611.25 

Postage, telegrams, and telephones (estimated $10,000 of which was 

spent in the foreign account)_ 14,573.68 

Tolls and ferriage (car tickets)_ 530.00 

Yeoman’s stores and safes_ 5, 775. IS 

Newspapers _ 139. 75 

Ice _ 1, 970. 66 

Other incidental expenses, including packing boxes, materials, chem¬ 
ists’ supplies, butter inspection, etc_ 11, 372. 10 

Estimated amount spent on foreign stations, other than for postage 

and cablegrams _ 2, 610. 61 

Transfers at navy-yards and stations from N. S. F. stores and gen¬ 
eral stock includes stationery for office of general storekeeper, pay 
officers ashore and afloat; materials for packing stores, care of 
and interior fittings for general storehouses, etc_ 44, 253. 63 


Total expenditure_ 148, 227. 06 

Balance - 11, 772. 94 


Appropriated for fiscal year 1906_ 160, 000. 00 

Unexpended balance for fiscal year— 

1905- 25, 026. 15 

1904- 7, 856. 91 

1903- 4, 808. 76 

1902- 22, 171. 56 


a Balance of deficiency appropriation carried to surplus fund. 
h Five hundred thousand dollars of this balance was reappropriated for 1904. 
































[So. 4.] 


BUREAU OE EQUIPMENT—STATEMENT OF REAR-ADMIRAL WIL¬ 
LIAM S. COWLES, CHIEF OF BUREAU. 

Committee on Naval Affairs, 

Thursday, December 13, 1906. 

The committee this day met, Hon. George E. Foss in the chair. 

The Chairman. The first item is, “Equipment of vessels: For 
hemp, wire, iron, and other materials for the manufacture of cordage, 
anchors, cables, galleys, and chains,” etc. The language of this par¬ 
agraph is the same as that of last j^ear? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Last year we gave you $3,000,000 and this year 
you are asking for $3,500,000, an increase of $500,000? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. What is the necessity for that increase? 

Admiral Cowles. There has been a decided advance in the require¬ 
ments of the service during the past year or so, and these requirements 
are increasing. Much has been accomplished in the establishment of 
wireless telegraph stations ashore, and the installation of wireless 
plants on naval vessels. The above expenses have been charged to 
“ Equipment of vessels,” but the appropriation has not been increased 
to cover them. Many modern appliances have recently been installed 
on naval vessels for sanitary and other reasons, particularly in con¬ 
nection with the cooking and messing systems. There has also been 
a large increase in electrical appliances for interior and exterior sig¬ 
naling. and for the health and comfort of the officers and crews of 
seagoing vessels. This has caused a gradual but permanent increase 
in the expenditures for equipment and supplies. A considerable 
amount will be required during the year for equipment work in con¬ 
nection with the installation of fire-control systems in all vessels of 
the Navy. 

It is estimated that approximately $100,000 will be required from 
this appropriation to pay equipment employees at navy-yards on 
account of Saturday half holiday, annual leave, and legal holidays 
during the year. This is an expenditure for which absolutely no 
service is rendered. In order that the output of the equipment shops 
may not be reduced by the effect of these holidays the equipment 
force must be correspondingly increased to offset the time lost on 
this account. 

A recent decision of the Department directs that all supplies under 
title Y, for new constructions (heretofore purchased from the appro¬ 
priation “ Increase of Navy ”), be purchased from the appropriation 
u Equipment of vessels.” This will materially increase the expen¬ 
ditures under this appropriation. 
n p—07-7 


97 


98 


The estimate for this additional amount has been submitted only 
after a careful deliberation of the increased requirements imposed on 
the Bureau, and it is hoped that the full amount required will be 
appropriated. 

The Bureau is prohibited by law, under penalty, from creating 
deficiencies in its appropriations. Under the present purchasing and 
accounting system of the Navy Department it is impracticable for 
the Bureau to know at any time with a degree of accuracy the status 
of its appropriations. In order to avoid this I asked for an extra 
clerk this year and they cut him out. 

The Chairman. You asked for the extra clerk in the legislative 
bill? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; but he was not allowed. So I do not 
see how I am going to be able to keep my books or to tell where we 
stand with regard to appropriations and expenditures any better than 
now. The appropriation is therefore practically reduced by the 
amount of this reservation, say, $250,000, because we do not know 
what we have to calculate upon exactly. 

The Chairman. How are you coming out this year? 

Admiral Cowles. We are running very close in order to get along. 
I can give you the items that go to make up the $3,500,000, if you 
would like. 

The Chairman. Yes, sir; in general terms. 

Admiral Cowles. Hemp for rope, cordage, etc., $40,000; wire, iron, 
etc., for manufacture of chain cables, anchors, and ground tackle, 
$25,000; canvas for awnings, sails, etc., $133,000 (this seems a large 
sum, but the canvas for a first-class battle ship amounts to nearly as 
much as it did for an old-fashioned ship whose motive power was 
sail. We use about $20,000 for a battle ship, and we used a little 
over $30,000 for the old ship, which shows that canvas is still largely 
employed). Water, $50,000 (that is, the water for the boilers); 
library books, $30,000; stationery, typewriters, etc., $73,000 (we fur¬ 
nish all the typewriters for the ships and for all our own work) ; 
removal and transportation of ashes, $7,000; interior appliances and 
tools for use at navy-yards, $81,236; athletic outfits, $7,500; wireless 
telegraphy and outfits, $400,000; china, glass and plated ware, table 
linen, etc., $25,394; bakery, galley mess, and pantry utensils, $25,000; 
labor in navy-yards, $1,000,000; pay for legal holidays, half holi¬ 
days, and annual leave, $105,000; pilotage and towage, $49,000; canal 
tolls, wharfage, etc., $15,283; nautical and astronomical instruments, 
compasses, binnacles, etc., $100,000; naval signals and signal appa¬ 
ratus, $8,000; lanterns, lamps, etc., $5,000; bunting and other flag 
material, $40,000; photographic materials, instruments, etc., $1,000; 
musical instruments, music, etc., $16,000 (every big ship has a band) ; 
electrical appliances, interior and exterior communication, etc., 
$400,000, and miscellaneous, impracticable to specify, $863,587. 

That $863,000 seems rather large, so I have itemized what it is 
spent for and I have a list here: 

Carpets, rugs, curtains, rods and fixtures, dustpans, mats (floor, 
anchor, collision, sword), shades, cuspidors, bath tubs, water coolers, 
scales, pumps, hose, nozzles, reducers, boat cloths, boatswain’s calls, 
commanders (iron and wood), boat cushions, dies, fenders (boat and 
ship), hand and leg irons, Jacob’s ladders, life belts, life buoys, nail 
punches, marlin spikes, mufflers, cargo nets, palms (roping), fire 


99 


grenades, seines, trim-buckles, printing outfit, awls, chisels, crowbars, 
hammers, hatchets, knives, mauls, mallets, pliers, scrapers, wheel¬ 
barrows, brooms, brushes, cleaning materials, trays, sewing machines 
and materials, squilgees, soap, matches, toilet paper, oil cans, filters, 
tanks, waste cans, sounding machines and equipment, logs and lines, 
war games, alcohol, graphite, grease, oil and other lubricants, rosin. 

The Chairman. Do you feel as though you could shade that at all 
this year, or is it rather a liberal estimate? 

Admiral Cowles. I do not think it is. I think it is a very close 
estimate. In fact, $4,000,000 was the amount originally determined 
upon, but it was finally decided to make $3,500,000 ‘suffice if practi¬ 
cable. It is nothing less than a hardship to have to make $3,000,000 
meet the demands made on the Bureau. 

Mr. Kitchin. What was the balance on hand last year, if any ? 

Admiral Cowles. Very little, indeed. In fact, I should have spent 
the money up to about $5,000 had not a gentleman who desired a con¬ 
tract made a foolish mistake. He did not get the contract, therefore, 
and we had about $80,000 on hand. 

Mr. Kitchin. How is the $3,000,000 lasting this year? 

Admiral Cowles. We have to stop spending money much before 
the end of every month in order to make it last. 

The Chairman. I want to ask you whether you have examined into 
the question of the cost of Avire rope. That was a subject that was 
pretty well aired on the floor last year. 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; I have. I do not think that you can 
buy wire rope for much less than we can make it, judging from the 
fact that the contractors for these new ships went from one cordage 
company to another before they could get anybody to take the con¬ 
tract, and then they sometimes fetched up and asked us to make it 
ourselves. Of course they can make it cheaper outside, but not as 
good, especially the cordage. As we have a ropewalk, the only differ¬ 
ence in cost would be due to the lack of opportunity to have anything 
like piecework, and our eight-hour labor day and annual leaves go to 
make up the difference. It is the difference in chain making that is 
rather large, and not the difference in the ropewalk. It was the chain 
making where the great point was made, I think. Our specification 
is not the same as Lloyds, and Lloyds governs outside work. Our 
own specifications require iron for the chain that costs 4 cents a 
pound. Outside they will make a chain and furnish material for 
that. We are reducing the cost for ironwork at Boston very much. 
We are putting in machinery for the large chains, and we expect to 
go on and put in machinery for the small chains and reduce the entire 
cost very much. We are working at that slowly, because we have to 
use the shop continually for repairing; we can not tear it all to pieces 
and remodel it, because we keep it going all the time, and so we do 
a little here and there. We did put in one or two very good machines 
this year, and Ave have loAvered the price about 1 cent a pound for the 
chain itself; for the shackles, SAvivels, and jew’s-harps we have lowered 
it very considerably. We have reduced it from 28 cents to about 10 
cents for those parts. 

Mr. Kitchin. Do we use the same iron in our chain as the private 
chain makers use? 

Admiral Cowles. No, sir; we do not. 

Mr. Kitchin. We use a better grade ? 


100 


Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; a better grade. They claim on the 
outside that they make a chain for 4 and 5 cents a pound. We have 
to give 4 cents for our material, and it costs more for labor than it 
does for material—say, 5 cents. So that it would cost 9 cents at 
least to make the finished product. 

The Chairman. If your chains were made by a private concern, 
they would have to be made under the navy specifications? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. We had some chain made this last 
year. The Monongahela Iron Works took the contract and made 
the chain—that is, the plain chain. When it came to the swivels, the 
jew’s-harps, and the shackles, they could not make them, and tried 
to get it done by three or four other firms. These latter agreed to 
make them at so much a pound; a different price (I have all the 
papers if you wish to see them) ; but they could not do it; they wrote 
afterwards and threw up the contract. Finally, the first-named 
firm came to us and asked if Ave would make the sAvivels, etc., charg 
ing for them at our rates, and Ave had them made at the Boston 
yard. They could not fill the contract for our big chains unless 
we made the special parts for them. Other firms agreed to take the 
contract and then threAv it up, and in the end, as aboA^e stated, Ave did 
the work ourselves. 

The Chairman. Have you bought any chain from private concerns 
during the last year? 

Admiral Coavles. We are just now completing the buying of the 
chain that I said was made by the Monongahela Iron Works, and for 
which Ave finished the special parts ourselves. 

The Chairman. What did you pay for it? 

Admiral Coavles. We paid about 8^ cents. 

The Chairman. Hoav large is it? 

Admiral Coavles. Tavo and three-quarter inches. Of course, Ave 
have to make our chain much lighter than the merchant ship’s chains, 
and consequently much stronger, or it will not do the work. We 
can not carry so much weight. You take the 3-inch chain, 15 
fathoms, and it weighs about 8,000 pounds. Fifteen fathoms of a 
2f-inch chain weighs 6,500 pounds, and so on down for the lighter 
chains. That is as heavy as Ave can afford to make them. We have 
to save weight on account of the Aveight required for the armor and 
guns. We make chains out of the very best material, just as strong 
and as light as possible. 

Of course our chains are subjected to a great deal more stress 
than a merchant ship’s chain. A merchant ship’s chain, correspond¬ 
ing to navy 2f-inch chain, weighs about 10,000 pounds for every 15 
fathoms. They generally carry a chain a little over 3 inches, which 
they use in the stream occasionally. A merchant ship generally 
goes alongside a dock, whereas our ships lie at anchor and there is 
consequently a great strain brought on their chains. If you are 
going ahead 3 knots and do not slack up or the anchor does not 
drag, the chain will carry aAvay. That is as much as the chain 
will do, but of course the chain is slackened up, and all this extra 
work wears it out rapidly. The chains have to be pretty strong, 
and as they have to be light also they must be made of the very 
best material. Consequently, we have to buy material that outside 
chain makers would not furnish. 


101 


Mr. Kitchin. What is the standard length of a chain for a 
battle ship? 

Admiral Cowles. Two chains 120 fathoms, and a third chain 
called the u sheet ” anchor chain, 120 fathoms also. 

Mr. Kitchin. Ion have three chains 120 fathoms long on each 
ship? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The weight of the chain is very great? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. The weight of that is about 6,500 
pounds for 15 fathoms, and you carry 120 multiplied by 3—360 
fathoms. 

Mr. Kitchin. With the large 3-inch chain it would be a hundred 
tons ? 

Admiral Cowles. It would run up to about 8,000 pounds for 
15 fathoms. 

Mr. Kitchin. That would be 64,000 pounds to a chain? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. They are all the time after us to 
reduce the length of the chains, but you can not do it because at 
any time you might lose 100 fathoms of chain and an anchor, and 
you may not be where it is possible to replace it. You may send 
down divers, but you may not find it; and you may lose the chain 
in 20 fathoms of water, where it is very difficult to dive, and 
you may never get the chain back at all. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ Coal and transportation,” 
$3,750,000. That estimate is the same as the appropriation last year? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Are you expecting to have a large unexpended 
balance this year? 

Admiral Cowles. Xo, sir. 

The Chairman. Do you require all of this appropriation? 

Admiral Cowles. I do. 

The Chairman. How many tons of coal do you purchase? 

Admiral Cowles. Last fiscal year we purchased 672,867 tons all 
told, at an average cost of $4.20 per ton. The year preceding 543,421 
tons, at an average cost of $5.05 per tdn. 

Mr. Kitchin. Does this item include the appropriation for what is 
known as the reserve supply of coal? 

Admiral Cowles. I have not bought any considerable amount of 
coal this year for reserve. I am buying little more than necessary 
for use to keep the ships going. The General Board likes to have a 
good deal of coal at the different coaling depots. For instance, two 
hundred thousand tons at Cavite. I have only 70,000 tons there now. 
I am going to send 50,000 tons there shortly, as soon as the necessary 
arrangements for freighting it can be made. 

The Chairman. What do you do; buy it here now? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes; we are requiring bids for its transportation 
in American vessels, steamers, sailing vessels; likewise for its trans¬ 
portation in foreign bottoms, and for coal laid down at Cavite, in¬ 
cluding transportation. In general terms, we want to see what kind 
of a bargain we can make. The desire is to ship American coal in 
American bottoms, but it costs generally $2.50 to $3.50 more a ton to 
land it at Cavite than it does to put the same coal down in foreign 
bottoms. 


102 

Mr. Kitchin. That is by reason of the special act of Congress, that 
is all? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. You would naturally use your own 
coal, and I have not bought a ton of Welsh coal yet for Cavite. 

The Chairman. What makes up the difference*; is it in the cost of 
the material itself? 

Admiral Cowles. No, sir. 

The Chairman. Simply the maintenance of the American ships? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. A good many of them if they carried 
coal out to Manila would not get a cargo back and they would have 
to charge freight for both wavs. 

Mr. Kitchin. That $3 practically amounts to a $3 subsidy to the 
American ships ? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. What does the coal cost you ? 

Admiral Cowles. About $5 a ton. That is the all-around price. 
Coal is worth from $2.75 to $3 here, steam coal. I can give you a 
good idea of what it is costing just now. Coal loaded in Govern¬ 
ment colliers or chartered colliers for shipment costs at present $2.75 
f. o. b. per ton. Georges Creek and Eureka coal cost $3.25 delivered 
alongside at New York in barges, and $2.85 alongside in barges at 
Philadelphia. Sterling Powelton costs $3.20 in New York Harbor 
and $2.80 at Philadelphia. These prices are all for delivery along¬ 
side in barges and are not the price of the coal delivered under the 
chute, which is less. Elk Garden costs $2.60 on board Government 
barges at Baltimore for shipment to Annapolis. That would be 
practically under chutes; $2.85 alongside in barges at the Naval 
Academy. It costs 25 cents more delivered there; $3.10 at the Naval 
Academy, stored and trimmed, or stored and piled ashore. Davis 
Big Vein Cumberland costs $2.75 delivered at Naval Academy, piled 
and trimmed. Georges Creek costs $3.10 alongside navy-vard, Wash¬ 
ington, in canal boats. Pocahontas delivered at Lamberts Point, 
under the chutes, costs $2.75 per ton. 

Mr. Kitchin. I suppose you will put those figures in the hearings? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. Now, please tell us the cost of some of the coal 
delivered at Cavite. 

Admiral Cowles. To put it out there in American vessels costs 
about $10 a ton. 

Mr. Kitchin. That is American coal? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; it costs $6.50 and $7.50 per ton freight 
to get it out there in American vessels, and then there must be added 
the cost of the coal. 

Mr. Kitchin. $6.50 freight ? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; $6.50 and $7.50. 

The Chairman. Would that be on steamers or sailing vessels ? 

Admiral Cowles. Six dollars and fifty cents for American sailing 
vessels, and $7.50 for American steamers! 

The Chairman. Is there competition between the American ships 
for this business, or is there practically one price? 

Admiral Cowles. There is practically one price. American ves¬ 
sels are offered the Bureau as they become available at a given rate. 
This rate is the same in each instance, and is seldom modified how¬ 
ever much or however little the Bureau desires the services. The 




103 


average rate for the shipment of coal to Manila in 1904 by foreign 
steamer was $5.05. No other kind of vessels were chartered during 
the year. In 1905 the average rate by foreign steamer was $4.80 per 
ton; by American steamer, $7.38 per ton, and by American sailing 
vessel, $6.50 per ton. In 1906 49,567 tons were shipped to Cavite. 
The average rate by foreign steamer for 18,574 tons of this was $4. 
The remainder, 30,989 tons, were shipped in American sailing ves¬ 
sels at an average rate of $6.04 per ton. No American steamers were 
chartered, though some offered at $7.50. We chartered American ves¬ 
sels from Arthur Sewall & Co., I. F. Chapman & Co., and D. B. 
Dearborn. 

Mr. Ivitchin. I infer from what you state that American coal de¬ 
livered at Cavite costs someAvhere between $9 and $10 a ton. 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; when shipped in American vessels. 
More than $10 when shipped in American steamers. 

Mr. Kitchin. What can you buy the foreign coal for? 

Admiral Cowles. For probably $3 less per ton. 

The Chairman. Is it just as good coal? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Loud. The vessel that takes coal out there brings back Philip¬ 
pine products? 

Admiral Cowles. Some of them do. They do if they can. 

Mr. Loud. There is about the same quantity, as I recollect, of hemp 
and sugar coming this way as there is coal going out there. 

Admiral Cowles. I expect they can get some freight, but they com¬ 
plain a good deal that the people who trade regularly out there have 
rather a cinch on them, and they can probably take freights at much 
lower rates. American vessels will take coal to Manila and then go 
on to Hawaii in ballast and get sugar and come home. 

Mr. Loud. It has always been a mystery to me why it has never 
been arranged that the boats taking coal out could get a cargo coming 
back so as to lower the freight. 

The Chairman. Insure them a cargo back, you mean ? 

Mr. Loud. If that coal was being shipped out bv private parties 
one of the first things they would look after would be to see that 
coal was sent out in boats that would bring cargoes back—to com¬ 
bine freight—so as to get cargoes both ways, and thereby lessen the 
freight. It has been a mystery to me why that has not been accom¬ 
plished. There is about the same quantity of freight coming back 
as there is coal going over. 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; but the.return freights are commercial 
cargoes and are brought back by foreign ships that can handle them 
at cheaper rates. If private parties were required by law to ship 
their coal in American vessels, they would find it necessary to use 
the very limited number of American vessels as they become available, 
whether return freights were available or not, in the same manner 
that the Bureau is now required to do. There is no chance to wait 
for the sugar season or the hemp season, as vessel owners can not 
afford to do so and will not have their ships idle. As quickly as they 
arrive in port and are discharged they must load and depart, if not 
with a load of coal for the Government then for any kind of a cargo 
they can get. It is a part of the regular business of the ship’s owner 
or agent to arrange return cargoes for the ships. They are generally 
sufficiently alive to the situation to do this when it is possible, and 


104 


usually on their success or failure depends the rate for the outbound 
cargo. 

Mr. Kitchin. There has been a good deal said about the develop¬ 
ment of some coal fields on a near-by island ? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; they have not any coal out there yet. 
They talk about it a good deal, and they wanted us to use it. We 
tried some of it and found it had too much sulphur in it, and that 
the carbon was low, and it was not coal that we could use without 
injuring the boilers. There is coal in Borneo, in the Philippines, and 
in China. There is also coal in Japan, but it is not good, except the 
Yakaido coal. The Japanese use the latter themselves and will not 
let you have it. It is said that there is good coal in Alaska, and I 
wish they would mine it, but they have not yet got communication 
down to Resurrection Bay to get it to market. Coal is much needed 
on the Pacific coast just now, and dealers would gladly buy all the 
Government has stored out there at rates much in excess of what 
we paid for it. They recently offered us $10 a ton, and it cost us 
about $7 to get there. 

Mr. Loud. Going back to the same topic, the hemp and the sugar 
have to come this way at a specified time? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir; when vessels are at hand to bring them. 

Mr. Loud. And the coal going the other way, is that spread over 
the whole year, so much a month, or is it available so it could be 
sent out at any time? 

Admiral Cowles. It runs along through the year as ships arrive 
on this side and become available. Generally about twice a year 
you get the best chance. Of course their sugar is not always ready 
and their hemp is not always ready. 

Mr. Loud. But the coal is always ready? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. You have said that the officers desire 200,000 tons 
of coal at Cavite ? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. And we have 70,000 tons there now and you con¬ 
template sending out at an early date about 50,000 tons, approxi¬ 
mately ? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. How much do you think you will probably send 
out in the next twelve months—that is, for the fiscal year for which we 
are now appropriating, from July 1, 1907, to July 1, 1908? 

Admiral Cowles. I should say I would send about 150,000 tons. 

Mr. Kitchin. During the fiscal year covered by this appropria¬ 
tion? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. That would give me enough to burn 
the coal we use out there—about 10,000 tons a month—and not run 
my supply down too far. 

Mr. Kitchin. It has occurred to me that, under your statement, if 
we were permitted to buy foreign coal there we could probably save 
$400,000 by repealing the provision that requires us to use American 
coal. 

The Chairman. Is there not some provision in the law whereby, 
if you believe these companies are holding you up, you can buy for¬ 
eign coal? 


105 


Admiral Cowles. That is the reason we are putting out all these 
advertisements, and we will find out what we can do. If they at¬ 
tempt to hold us up we will buy foreign coal, or ship our coal in for¬ 
eign bottoms. The law provides that if exorbitant rates are asked 
for American ships the President may waive its requirements, but it 
does not state as to what shall be considered exorbitant rates. 

The Chairman. Have you any authority in such cases under the 
law ? 

Admiral Cowles. Only such as stated above. 

Mr. Loud. I would like to ask you if there has ever been an attempt 
made to systematically get hold of the freighting so as to combine the 
coal going out and the return products of hemp and sugar? 

Admiral Cowles. No, sir; such a thing is not practicable. Ship¬ 
ments depend on the available number of ships. We take about every 
ship that offers. We do not ask them why they are going. 

Mr. Loud. Would not a private individual sending coal out there 
try to get the benefit of a combination of the freights 5 

Admiral Cowles. He might try. Put if required to ship in Amer¬ 
ican vessels he would have to take them as they come. Foreign ves¬ 
sels look to the return cargo, for, as stated, their success or failure to 
secure one will regulate the outgoing freight, and owners of such 
ships know that the question of rate will cut some figure in the 
transaction. 

Mr. Loud. Why could not the Government do that? 

Admiral Cowles. The Government does all in that direction that 
a private shipper could possibly do. It has always been the practice 
heretofore to ship on a low market, except in cases of necessity. It 
is doubtful if any private shipper ever did or ever could secure 
rates as low as have been quoted to the Bureau for foreign bottoms. 
In 1906 we chartered foreign steamers as low as $4 per ton; American 
steamers demanded $7.50. After sufficient tonnage was secured 
foreign steamers offered as low as $3.75 and $3.90. In October, 1906, 
the Bureau chartered schooners for coal to Guantanamo, Cuba, at 
$1.40 per ton; at the same time a commercial charter was reported, 
in a sheet devoted to that purpose, at $2.25 per ton. 

The Chairman. That is really a matter for the ships themselves? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Loud. But a private individual having coal to go out there 
would undertake, through the shippers or owners, to get the benefit 
of the combination in some form ? 

Admiral Cowles. The Government does this in demanding the 
lowest possible rate, and shipowners know they must depend on 
return freights in some direction or other in order to make rates for 
the coal cargo that would be considered. It is the American ship 
that gets the high rate, and we have little choice in the face of the 
law of April 28, 1904. 

Mr. Loud. If I had that coal shipped out myself I venture to say 
that I could get it shipped a great deal cheaper than the Government 
does by making a combination. 

Admiral Cowles. As stated above, I doubt that any commercial 
institution ever did or ever will get rates any lower than have been 
secured by the Government. This for foreign bottoms, of course. 
For American ships we must either accept the rate, however high it 
may be, dr lose the ship. 


106 


Mr. Kitchin. My recollection of the testimony before the commit¬ 
tee of Congress for six or seven years past is that we have been pay¬ 
ing from $2 to $3 more in the total cost of coal out there than we 
could have bought the same coal for if we had been permitted to buy 
foreign coal. I believe under the law now that we have a right to 
buy foreign coal in cases of emergency. 

Admiral Cowles. Oh, yes; in case the price is too high we can buy 
foreign coal or ship American coal in foreign ships; but what is 
considered “ too high ” has not vet been determined. 

Mr. Kitchin. I really think that is a very important part of this 
bill, and I think if you amend your testimony at all, Admiral, you 
should give us as full information as possible. 

Admiral Cowles. I will. 

The Chairman. And I wish also you would put in a copy of the 
law. 

Admiral Cowles. A copy of the law is appended. I also append a 
statement showing the cost to ship coal to Cavite for the past four 
years. 

[Public —No. 108.] 

AN ACT to require the employment of vessels of the United States for public purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
of America in Con press assembled , That vessels of the United States, or belong¬ 
ing to the United States, and no others, shall be employed in the transportation 
by sea of coal, provisions, fodder, or supplies of any description, purchased 
pursuant to law, for the use of the Army or Navy unless the President shall 
find that the rates of freight charges by said vessels are excessive and unrea¬ 
sonable, in which case contracts shall be made under the law as it now exists: 
Provided, That no greater charges be made by such vessels for transportation 
of articles for the use of the said Army and Navy than are made by such vessels 
for transportation of like goods for private parties or companies. 

Sec. 2. That this act shall take effect sixty days after its passage. 

Approved, April 28, 1904. 


Statement showing cost of transportation of coal to Manila, fiscal years 

1903-1906. 

1903. 


Kind of vessel. 

Number 
of vessels. 

Tonnage. 

Average 

rate. 

Steamers, foreign. 

10 

41,985.5 

84. 77 


Highest rate paid (British steamer) 

Lowest rate paid (British steamer) 



$4. 95 

1904. 




Steamers, foreign. 

12 

57,338. 5 

85.05 


Highest rate paid (British steamer) 

Lowest rate paid (British steamer) 



i i 

-99 

COCO 

oica 


1905. 


Steamers: 

Foreign . 

17 

5 


Qi cn 

American. 

39,114 

IQ <*Q£ 

<r±. oU 
n oq 

Sailing vessels American. 

5 

/. oo 
a Kn 




0. OU 

Total. 

27 

Ml QA7 

70 



0. /o 


Highest rate paid (American steamer) 
Lowest rate paid (British steamer)_ 














































107 


Statement showing cost of transportation of coal to Manila , etc. —Continued. 


1906. 


Kind of vessel. 

Number 
of vessels. 

Tonnage. 

Average 

rate. 

Steamers, foreign. 

3 

8 

18,578 
30,989 

34.00 

6.04 

Sailing vessels, American. 

Total. 

11 

49,567 

5.27 



Highest rate paid (American sailing vessel)_$6. 50 

Lowest rate paid (British steamer)_ 4.00 


Highest rate paid (American sailing vessel)_$6. 50 

Lowest rate paid (British steamer)_ 4.00 


The Chairman. Contingent, Bureau of Equipment: Express 
charges on equipment stores, packing boxes and material, and so 
forth, $15,000 instead of $11,000 last year. Will you kindly explain 
the necessity for the increase? 

Admiral Cowles. Well, we had to get more money last year. 

The Chairman. You had a deficiency, did you? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes. $15,000 contingent fund is itemized as fol¬ 
lows: Express charges, $3,000; packing boxes and material, $1,400; 
printing, $100; advertising, $700; telegraphing, $1,250; furniture, 
$1,800; postage, $400; car fare, $300; ice, $425: telephone, $1,200; 
laundry, $150; labor in navy-yards, $1,800; miscellaneous, $2,475. 
That makes up the $15,000. In the curtailment of expense for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1900, it was necessary to dispense with 
many telegrams; we had to stop telegraphing altogether in many 
cases, and it resulted in a good deal of embarrassment. The Bureau 
submitted estimates for $14,000 for the current fiscal year last time, 
and the Department approved them, but only $11,000 was appropri¬ 
ated. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ Ocean and lake surveys, hydro- 
graphic surveys, and for the purchase of nautical books, charts, etc., 
$75,000.” 

Admiral Cowles. That we use up every year, and we could use a 
great deal more. With that $75,000 we purchased charts, $30,000; 
nautical books, $700; pay for hydrographic surveys and draughtsmen 
whom we have on all of the surveying ships, $25,000; surveying in¬ 
struments, $12,500; express charges on charts, books, etc., $500; mis¬ 
cellaneous materials, instruments, lumber, things which it is im¬ 
practicable to classify, $6,000. 

The Chairman. So you require that $75,000? 

Admiral Cowles. We require it; yes. 

The Chairman. Where are you surveying now, or have you been 
surveying, in the last year ? 

Admiral Cowles. We have been surveying at Guantanamo, and we 
have been surveying on the coast of Santo Domingo, and we are now 
surveying down at Cape Cruz on the south coast of Cuba. 

The Chairman. Depots for coal: And to enable the Secretary of 
the Navy to execute the provisions of section 1552 of the Revised 
Statutes, etc., $400,000. 

Admiral Cowles. In regard to that I will say that there has been 
no money appropriated since the act of March 3, 1905. In the esti¬ 
mates for the fiscal year 1906, the Bureau submitted an estimate for 
$700,000 under this appropriation, but $300,000 was appropriated 
in the act of March 3, 1905. When the estimates for the present 



















108 


fiscal year were prepared by the Bureau, an item of $850,000 was 
submitted. The Department did not see fit to pass this item to Con¬ 
gress, and there was therefore no appropriation for the establishment 
of coal depots for the fiscal year. The total amount appropriated 
for the last four years amounts to but $900,000. That is all now used 
up, and we must now await an additional appropriation before un¬ 
dertaking any new work in the way of establishing coaling stations. 
We asked for $800,000 this year, but the Secretary cut it down to 
$400,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. Where is it proposed to spend this. money? 

Admiral Cowles. The Bureau has under construction a coaling 
plant at California City Point, and the funds we have here are in¬ 
sufficient to carry this out to completion. That place is right outside 
of San Francisco. There is also under construction at Hospital 
Cay, Guantanamo, Cuba, a coaling station. 

The Chairman. How many in all? 

Admiral Cowles. Two; one each at Guantanamo and California 
City Point. 

Mr. Kitchin. What is the amount proposed to be expended at each 
place ? 

Admiral Cowles. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars is re¬ 
quired to finish California City Point, and $250,000 is required for 
Hospital Cay, Guantanamo; and we also want $50,000 for Brad¬ 
ford, but we do not seem to be able to get very far. I have mentioned 
proposed expenditures for $550,000 already, and in addition I Avanted 
$250,000 to start the construction of a plant at San Diago, Cal., mak¬ 
ing $800,000 all told, but the Secretary savs we can only have 
$400,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. How much have A\ T e already expended in California 
on this coal depot, and Iioav much at Guantanamo? 

Admiral Coaa t les. We have work now in progress at Guantanamo 
which "will cost when completed approximately $300,000, and at Cali¬ 
fornia City Point AA T hich will cost approximately $325,000. The funds 
for this work have been withdrawn from the general account and 
set aside for the work in hand. The amounts stated, however, are 
only sufficient to make a good start on these plants. The necessary 
wharf at each place has required the greater part of each allotment, 
and there is no money for housing the coal. The additional $250,000 
each is required to complete them. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is it considered that $250,000 will complete the coal 
depot at Guantanamo, Cuba ? 

Admiral Coavles. Yes, sir; and $250,000 more for California City 
Point. 

Mr. Kitchin. That will make the total cost at San Francisco 
$575,000, estimated, and the total cost at Guantanamo $550,000? 

Admiral CoA\ r LES. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Butler. Let me ask you something regarding the policy of 
our Department as to coaling stations. As a civilian, it gives me 
a great deal of concern that perhaps Ave have not sufficient coaling 
stations, sufficient places Avhere our ships could stop for coal, and I 
think I appreciate the necessity of frequent coaling places. Do you 
intend to make a big depot at Guantanamo ? 

Admiral Coavles. Yes, sir. We are at work on it noAv. 


109 


W ith the building of the Panama Canal the Caribbean Sea be¬ 
comes a focus of maritime commercial activity which will surpass in 
importance the Mediterranean Sea. Much of the traffic through 
the Suez Canal will be diverted to the Panama Canal. The United 
States has guaranteed the neutrality of the Panama Canal, which 
means not only the canal itself, but the seas closely adjacent to it. 
The trade routes which will pass through the Panama Canal are 
shown on the accompanying chart, and it may be seen how much the 
trade from Gulf ports and the Mississippi region and the Atlantic 
coast will be affected by the completion of the canal, and how de¬ 
pendent the trade will be on the canal. 

The greater part of the trade through the canal will belong to the 
United States. On this account, and because of the present and 
future importance of the Gulf ports, the Caribbean region becomes 
of vast importance to the United States; surpassing even the im¬ 
portance of the Mediterranean to England. 

Captain Mahan, in his Interest of the United States in Sea Power, 
concludes that the key to the Caribbean Sea is the Windward Pas¬ 
sage, and that the power which has a superior sea force based near 
that passage will control the Caribbean, the trade leading to the 
Panama Canal, and the canal itself. 

The United States lias selected and now controls Guantanamo as 
its naval base in Caribbean waters. It is admirably situated on the 
south side of Cuba, about 50 miles from the Windward Passage, and 
on the flank of the trades routes, particularly the more important 
ones. A very good beginning has been made toward an efficient 
emergency repair and supply base; a first-class dry dock is being 
built, limited repair shops are planned, and a coal depot is being 
built. 

.A strongly fortified and equipped naval base, with a good strate¬ 
gical location like Guantanamo, is, in the opinion of the Department, 
essential to the protection of the Panama Canal and our trade 
interests. In Atlantic waters the only probable theater of war is 
the Caribbean, and our battle fleet must have a fortified base where 
the ships can refill with coal, stores, and ammunition, and repair 
damages quickly. In peace times our ships must be repaired at the 
home navy-yards, but in a war in the Caribbean they can not be sent 
to our home yards and suffer risk of capture and the longer time 
necessary. The absence of one or two ships might mean the loss of 
our control, and this can not be risked. 

Guantanamo is remarkably well suited for the purposes of a naval 
base, not only on account of its excellent strategical position, but on 
account of its natural advantages. It has an excellent harbor, is 
now being defended by army fortifications, and lies on an island 
which has great natural resources capable of sustaining the naval 
base should it be cut off from the United States. 

Extracts or statements from Mahan’s Interest of the United States in Sea Power. 

1. “ If, on the other hand, we determine that our interest and dignity require 
that our rights should depend upon the will of no other State, but upon our 
own power to enforce them, we must gird ourselves to admit that freedom of 
interoceanic transit depends upon predominance in a maritime region—the 
Caribbean Sea—through which pass all the approaches to the Isthmus.” 

2. “ Control of a maritime region is insured primarily by a navy; secondarily, 


110 


by positions, suitably chosen and spaced one from the other, upon which as 
bases the navy rests, and from which it can exercise its strength. 

3. “ The Caribbean can be more safely guarded against aggressive European 
States than the route to the Suez Canal, which passes close to their ports. 

4. “ When, if ever, people recognize that we have three seaboards, that the 

communication by water of one of them with the other two will depend in 
a not remote future upon a strategic position hundreds of miles distant from 
our nearest port—the mouth of the Mississippi—they will see also that the 
word ‘ defense,’ already too narrowly understood, has its application at points 
far away from our own coast.” * 

5. “ Entrance to the Caribbean, and transit across the Caribbean to the 
Isthmus, are two prime essentials to the enjoyment of the advantages of the 
latter. Therefore, in case of war, control of these two things becomes a 
military object not second to the Isthmus itself, access to which depends on 
them.” 

6. Mahan states that “ the strategic center of interest for both Gulf and 
Caribbean is to be found in the Windward Passage” (close to which lies 
Guantanamo). 

In considering this subject the following memorandum of Com¬ 
mander C. C. Rogers, U. S. Navy (now hydrographer of the Navy 
Department, but recently commandant at Guantanamo), may be of 
interest: 

1. Guantanamo Bay extends in a general north and south direction for a 
distance of about 11 miles, G miles of which length by navigable channel are 
within the limits of the reservation leased to the United States. The part 
within Cuban territory is known locally as .Joa Bay, and has a depth of from 
12 to 15 feet, although the channel leading into it is deep. It is the lower part, 
or that under the American jurisdiction, which is generally designated as 
Guantanamo Bay. This bay varies from a navigable width of li miles at 
its entrance to a general width of 2^ miles between Fishermans and Caracoles 
points, attaining its greatest width—1 miles—between Point Palma, in the 
northwestern part, and the shores of Granadillo Bay, on the east. It is capable 
of admitting vessels of the largest draft without difficulty and in safety. 

Between Corinaso and Deer points,, in the southeastern part of the bay, the 
shore is deeply indented, and this feature is still more conspicuous in the north¬ 
west and northeast sections of the bay, such indentations forming secure bights 
for vessels of light to moderate draft. About one-half mile to the northward of 
Leeward Point is the mouth of the Guantanamo River, in which the depths are 
from 9 to 15 feet for a considerable distance within the entrance. During my 
experience as commandant, the tug Sel)ago navigated the lower part of this 
river in the service of the station ; and a peculiar feature of it that can be 
utilized for military purposes is found in Mahomilla Bay, a body of water about 
1^ miles long in a northwest and southeast direction, and lying wholly to the 
westward of the lower part of the Guantanamo River, from which it is entered. 
This bay would accommodate a considerable flotilla of torpedo boats and destroy¬ 
ers, and any plan of defense would contemplate such use of it. 

In the entrance to the Guantanamo River defense vessels of the Florida type 
could be anchored in an advantageous position for a 12-inch fire against an 
enemy’s vessels attempting to enter the bay. The depth between St. Nicolas 
Point and the eastern shore varies from 2S to 64 feet, and about a quarter of a 
mile farther in—to the westward of Fishermans Foint—from 22 to 47 feet. 
The latter reach affords an excellent site for a mine field. The general depth 
of the anchorage ground off Fishermans Point is about 7 fathoms; off the sta¬ 
tion on South Toro Cay about 5 fathoms. In the bight, to the eastward of 
Corinaso Point there are depths of 7 fathoms, in which the defense vessels 
could lie and surprise an enemy operating against vessels using this bay as a 
port of refuge. The several indentations in the northwest section of the bay 
vary from 15 to 24 feet in depth. There is a large area in this section of about 
22 feet depth. The indentations in the eastern part of Granadillo Bay vary 
from 24 to 29 feet in depth. These locations add greatly to the resources of the 
defense in operations requiring secrecy or surprise. 

Eagle Channel between Medio Cay and the Toro Cays varies from 25 to 47 
feet in depth and has a length of about 1^ miles. It is narrow, but could be 
utilized by even heavy ships to great advantage in the defense of the bay. 
The shores to the eastward and westward of the entrance are steep-to, con- 


Ill 


sisting of bold bluffs with occasional small coves, in which it would be difficult 
to effect a landing on account of the Cuzco and other hills. The eastern part 
of the reservation is rugged and hilly and affords excellent sites for fortifica¬ 
tions of any character. The southwestern portion of the station is marked 
by hills 100 to 300 feet in height. Even in the absence of permanent forti¬ 
fications temporary batteries would hamper seriously the operation of a con¬ 
siderable force and would probably check, or eventually prevent, the entrance 
of a smaller force. A notable feature of this bay is that many of the smaller 
indentations are practically natural sites for dry docks. The several cays are 
also bordered by mangrove, from which there is a sudden descent into deep 
water. Hospital Cay, which is considered an excellent site for a coaling sta¬ 
tion, has a mangrove bordered on each side from 200 to 300 feet in width, 
which, with a little fill, forms at once ail excellent platform for coal. The 
depths of 27 to 30 feet directly alongside, combined with the unusual extent 
of platform space, would make it possible for a large number of vessels to coal 
here at one time. Any amount of coal desired could be stored here, and with 
lighters and wharfage the facilities for coaling ships would be unsurpassed. 
The most recent information is to the effect that a daily supply of 500,000 
gallons of water is obtainable in one of the valleys to the eastward of the 
small-arm target range. Plans are under consideration for utilizing this sup¬ 
ply for the needs of the station. A 1,000,000-gallon reservoir is being built 
on North Toro Cay, from which this water can be distributed to any part of 
the station. The Yateras Itiver, a part of which is about 7 miles to the north¬ 
east of the station, and the waterworks at Guantanamo are other sources of 
supply upon which requisition could be made if necessary. 

2. Railways connect Guantanamo city with Caimanera and Deseo Point on 
the western side of the bay, and with Boqueron on the eastern side. A railway 
is also under construction between Guantanamo city and Le Maya, a station 
of the Cuba Railroad, and when this section is completed there will be a 
through railway service from Habana, via Guantanamo, to Caimanera. The 
several branches to Nipe Bay and other points on the northern coast increase 
the routes by which, if necessary, the station may be approached. The cables 
of the French Cable Company land at Fishermans Point and are connected, 
through the bay and overland, with Caimanera, where the cable office is located. 
Land telegraph lines extend from Caimanera to Guantanamo, which is con¬ 
nected with all parts of the island. Supplies can be obtained at Guantanamo and 
Caimanera for use of shipsv During the stay of the Atlantic Fleet in the spring of 
1900 the Caimanera Ship Chandlery Company supplied the fleet with fresh meat 
and vegetables. There was some difficulty in keeping up the supplies of vegetables, 
but the frequent visits of ships and the regular visits of the fleet are encourag¬ 
ing contractor* to increase their facilities in this respect, and a continuance of 
this practice will probably bring the resources of the port to the point neces¬ 
sary for adequate supply. 

The foregoing features, which contribute in such a marked way to the 
advantages of the port for naval purposes, are now being supplemented by 
- permanent fortifications between Fishermans and Windward points and on 
Conde Bluff. An armored ship is kept permanently in the bay as a part of the 
station force. 

Mr. Butler. What territory, if I might use the term, ought the 
Guantanamo station to supply ? 

Admiral Cowles. For all our vessels operating on the southern 
part of this coast. 

Mr. Butler. And in the Gulf ? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes. You see we have given up our coaling sta¬ 
tion at Dry Tortugas altogether, and removed the coal from there. 
Mr. Butler. Tortugas was away up in the Gulf ? 

Admiral Cowles. It is 60 miles west of Ivey A\ est and about 95 
miles north of Habana. We will probably have a coaling station at 
the mouth of the canal when that is done. We are surveying north 
of there now at Almirante Bay. 

Mr. Ivitchin. What appropriation are you already working on tor 
this coal depot at Guantanamo? 


112 

Admiral Cowles. Under the old appropriation made two years 
ago. 

Mr. Kitchin. A similar one to this? 

Admiral Cowles. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. How much unexpended balance have you to-day ? 

Admiral Cowles. We have not any money at all available for ex¬ 
penditure. We are just about even now. 

The Chairman. How much are you asking for? 

Admiral Cowles. We asked for $800,000, but the Secretary re¬ 
duced it one-half, and the estimate before you is $400,000. 

Mr. Butler. For Guantanamo alone, or all the stations? 

Admiral Cowles. We wanted $250,000 each for Guantanamo, 
California City Point, and San Diego, Cal., and $50,000 to complete 
the station at Bradford. While coal depots in a number of places are 
desirable, I have asked for money to build the three which are con¬ 
sidered the most important and most needed—that is, Guantanamo, 
San Francisco, and San Diego, Cal.—but if only $400,000 is appro¬ 
priated we will have to do the best we can and make it go as far as 
possible. 

Mr. Butler. San Diego, Cal. ? 

Admiral Cow t les. Yes. But we have not done anything there at 
all yet. 

Mr. Butler. When was the authorization made for San Diego, 
Cal.; do you remember that ? 

Admiral Cowles. It was some years ago, before my time. There 
was a quarantine station down there, and we have been a little slow 
about getting the work done. 

Mr. Butler. What do you know about the condition of the water 
at San Diego as to depth ? 

Admiral Cowles. It is all right; it is a good harbor. 

Mr. Butler. Do you know anything about the movement that was 
made there to trade some land owned by individuals to the Govern¬ 
ment for the Government lands so as to improve the Government 
facilities ? 

Admiral Cowles. No; I do not know about that. 

Mr. Butler. My recollection is that there was a bill pending in 
Congress authorizing the transfer. 

Admiral Cowles. The land set aside for a coal depot was trans¬ 
ferred from the War Department to the Navy Department. The 
Marine-Hospital Service secured a portion of this land by an act 
of Congress, on which was built the quarantine station. It was con¬ 
sidered undesirable to build a coal depot alongside of a quarantine 
station, and the bill referred to was for the purpose of acquiring 
land elsewhere for the quarantine station in order that it might be 
moved. 

Mr. Butler. This money is used simply at Guantanamo and Cali¬ 
fornia City Point ? 

Admiral Cowles. Nowhere else. 

Mr. Kitchin. What land? How much and where is the land that 
is intended to be purchased under this item ? The item says “ includ¬ 
ing the purchase of necessary land.” 

The Chairman. That is the general provision of the act itself. 

Mr. Kitchin. No; the act has not that provision in it. 


113 


Admiral Cowles. The clause u including the purchase of the nec¬ 
essary land, was first incorporated in the appropriation u Depots 
for coal,” in the act of July 1, 1902. This was done because the ac¬ 
counting officers of the Treasury decline to allow, in the accounts 
of a purchasing pay officer, vouchers drawn in payment for land pur¬ 
chased in the State of Rhode Island on which is now established 
the coal depot at Bradford. At the same time an additional pro¬ 
vision of the act referred to directed the accounting officers to allow 
this expenditure. It is very desirable that the phraseology of the 
act be not changed, in order that complications may not arise in the 
event of necessity arising to purchase land. 

Mr. Ivitchin. I raised that point once and the Chair held that it 
was a necessary implication, but not provided for. In the act No. 
1552 of the Revised Statutes it says: 

The Secretary of the Navy may establish at such places as he may deem neces¬ 
sary suitable depots for coal and other fuel for the supply of steamships of war.” 

The fact that you put it in here, when it was not in the Revised 
Statutes, made me think that you had a certain piece of land already 
in view. I understand, Admiral, that you say you have no particular 
land in view at this time. 

Admiral Cowles. No. 

The Chairman. Civil establishments. Navy-yard at Portsmouth, 
N. H., same as last year. 

At Boston you want one writer at $950 and one at $1,100, and in¬ 
crease for one of those writers, I believe, of $150. That is a little 
more money. 

Admiral Cowles. Yes; he wants his pay raised. He has been 
there a long time, and his pa}^ ought to be raised. That is only a $150 
increase. 

The Chairman. You have some other raises at New York. 

Admiral Cowles. Well, we want a copyist in the testing laboratory 
at $900. 

The Chairman. Have you not one there now, paid under the gen¬ 
eral fund ? 

Admiral Cowles. This is a new man that we want. We have 
much work there, and we do a great deal of testing. We want a new 
man to help out in the work, and an increase of pay of two writers 
from $950 to $1,000. 

The Chairman. How about Cavite—one file clerk and stenog¬ 
rapher, $900. Is that new ? 

Admiral Cowles. That is new. We haven’t anybody there. 

The Chairman. And at Guantanamo, one writer at $1,200. 

Admiral Cowles. We ask for a clerk and a writer at Guantanamo. 
The clerk was stricken off, in the interest of economy, and the writer 
was left. We have nobody there now. The officers are doing the 
work. 

The Chairman. Is there much of an equipment station there ? 

Admiral Cowles. They are doing a good deal of work—a lot of 
surveying and construction work in the establishment of the coaling 
station. There is a great deal of work going on at Guantanamo. 

The Chairman. How is the naval station at New Orleans? I see 
you want a clerk there at $1,000. 

Admiral Cowles. Yes; they want that. 

n p—07-8 


114 


Mr. Kitchin. I think, Admiral, that you will find an apparent 
inconsistency in your testimony upon that Guantanamo matter, or 
that I have misunderstood you. I understood you to say at one 
time that you had spent nothing on the naval depot at Guantanamo, 
and that $250,000 would cover the entire cost. I understood you to 
say later that you had already done some work there on this naval 
depot out of a former appropriation. 

Admiral Cowles. We have established a temporary coaling station 
at Guantanamo, which will ultimately become a part of the perma¬ 
nent establishment. This station handled in an out last year over 
35,000 tons of coal, at a valuation of approximately $160,000, and in 
addition to this probably as much coal was issued at the station direct 
from colliers, which did not enter into the accounts of the station. 

Contracts have been let and work is now in progress for the build¬ 
ing of a permanent wharf and for providing and constructing the 
coal-handling plant and providing the necessary machinery. The 
concrete platform on which the coal will be stored and cottages for 
housing the custodian and other permanent employees are in course 
of construction by day laborers under direction of the commandant. 
Proposals will be opened on December 19 for the standpipe, and the 
distilling plant taken from Dry Tortugas is all ready to be trans¬ 
ferred to Guantanamo and erected at that place. It will be seen, 
therefore, that while considerable work is in progress and in contem¬ 
plation to make this place a complete and up-to-date coaling station 
it has but fairly begun. It is to complete this station that $250,000 
was requested. 



[No. 5.] 


BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY—STATEMENT OF 
P. M. RIXEY, SURGEON-GENERAL U. S. NAVY. 

Committee on Naval Affairs, 

Thursday , December 13, 1906. 

The Chairman (Mr. Foss). The first is the “ Medical Department: 
For surgeons for vessels in commission, navy-yards, naval stations, 
Marine "Corps,” and so forth, $270-,000, or an increase of $15,000. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. That is due to the increased expense in¬ 
cident to the enlistment of 3,000 additional men estimated for by the 
Bureau of Navigation. 

The Chairman. If those men are not allowed, you do not want it? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. No. 

The Chairman. Have you not enough money to carry you through 
this year—you are not going to ask for a deficiency, are you ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. There will be no deficiency. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Naval hospital fund, $40,000,” the 
same as last year. The next is, “ Contingent: Bureau of Medicine 
and Surgery, $60,000.” There is an increase there of $5,000. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. This increase will not be required if the 
3,000 additional men asked for by the Bureau of Navigation are not 
allowed. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Transportation of remains.” Do 
you need that amount? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Do you recall the significance of that date—April 
21,1898? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes; it is the date of the beginning of 
the Spanish-American war. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ Repairs, Bureau of Medicine and 
Surgery.” You ask for $50,000, an increase of $5,000. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. That is due to increases in the number of 
hospitals and the taking care of buildings, roads, cemeteries, grounds, 
etc. We have 18 hospitals. 

The Chairman. Where are they ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yokohama, Japan; Canacao, P. I.; Chel¬ 
sea, Mass.; Mare Island, Cal.; Newport, R. I.; New York, N. Y.; 
Norfolk, Va.; Pensacola, Fla.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Port Royal, S. C.; 
Portsmouth, N. H.; Puget Sound, Wash.; San Juan, P. R,; Sitka, 
Alaska; Ninth street and Pennsylvania avenue SE., Washington, 
D. C., and Naval Medical School Hospital, Washington, D. C.; also 
hospitals under construction at Annapolis, Md., and New Fort Lyon, 
Las Animas, Bent County, Colo. 

The Chairman. They will not need many repairs. 


115 


116 


Surgeon-General Rixey. The new hospitals, so far as the build¬ 
ings are concerned, will not need many repairs, but possibly some 
minor alterations; but the grounds and the roadways have to be im¬ 
proved, shade trees set out, and possibly some grading and filling in. 

The Chairman. The next is a new provision—for the equipment 
of a hospital for laborers at the naval station, Guantanamo, etc. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. This appropriation of $900 is for the 
equipment of a hospital for civil employees, for which purpose there 
are no funds applicable under the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. 
The law clearly says that the funds are for the Medical Department 
of the Navy. This has been explained to the Secretary of the Navy, 
.and the request for $900 mentioned above is made by his direction. 
1 believe the conditions existing at this station warrant this expendi¬ 
ture by the Government for the purpose referred to. 

The Chairman. Why could he not do it out of his contingent 
fund ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. That question I can not answer. 

The Chairman. I see it is “ to be immediately available.” That 
would be subject to a point of order. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. At present the medical and surgical re¬ 
quirements are furnished by the surgeons of the Navy at a great dis¬ 
advantage, owing to the facilities being inadequate to handle the 
cases as required in a properly equipped emergency hospital. The 
building, I understand, has already been provided by the Depart¬ 
ment and the request for these funds is for the equipment of the 
building now available. 

PUBLIC WORKS UNDER BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND 

SURGERY. 

The Chairman. We will now turn to page 113, “ Public works 
under Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.” The first is the naval 
hospital at Norfolk, Va.; for the renovation of the present hospital 
buildings and the erection of new wards to cost not to exceed $200,- 
000. Last year you had $100,000. 

Surgeon-feeneral Rixey. Yes, sir. You gave us $100,000 for 1907, 
with instructions that we should enter into a contract not to exceed 
$200,000. Now we ask for the balance of this appropriation, $100,- 
000 . 

The Chairman. That will finish it up? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes. 

The Chairman. We now go to the naval hospital at Canacao, 
P. I. “ For the construction of additional wards, $50,000, and for the 
erection of two quarters for the medical staff, $20,000: in all, 
$70,000.” 

Surgeon-General Rixey. We have a modern tropical naval hospital 
at Canacao. Its capacity is 120 beds, and should be increased to ac¬ 
commodate 200 patients under ordinary conditions. It is only neces¬ 
sary to add bed space to accomplish this, as the administrative 
facilities—the expensive part of the hospital—are already provided 
for. The addition of $20,000 for the medical-staff quarters is im¬ 
portant at this time, in that arranging for tiie wards will require the 
removal of some of the staff’s quarters and the erection of additional 
accommodations for them. I sincerely hope that the $70,000 may be 


117 


allowed in order that we may have ample accommodations for 
patients so far from home and suitable accommodations for the 
officers and hospital-corps men who have to labor in the care of the 
sick in the Tropics. In this connection I wish to state that on the 
occasion of my visit to the hospital in June last I found the standard 
of work done up to modern requirement and the results equal to 
that obtained in any portion of the world, the only difficulty being 
in the need of additional ward space for enlisted men and additional 
quarters. 

The Chairman. Suppose we should decide to go up to Olongapo 
for our permanent naval station ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. The only need at Olongapo at present is 
a suitable sick quarters; for the station there is need of additional 
hospital facilities. This can be most economically supplied by en¬ 
larging the hospital at Canacao. 

The Chairman. Will you take the men to Canacao? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes; we will take any hospital cases 
there, emergency cases being cared for at the sick quarters. If it is 
decided to have a large station at Olongapo, in five or ten years from 
now you will probably build a hospital, and I selected a site for one 
while at Olongapo in June last. This hospital, however, should not 
be asked for until the Canacao and Yokohama hospitals are unable 
to care for the patients on the station. 

The Chairman. Do you not use the Japanese hospital at Yo¬ 
kohama ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes; especially for the sick of the cruis¬ 
ing ships and those on the way home, or convalescents. 

The Chairman. Did they buy the land at Yokohama? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes. 

The Chairman. The next is the naval hospital at Pensacola, 
$25,000. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. I asked the Secretary for $75,000. Since 
making this request for this hospital a hospital has been established 
in Bent County, Colo., an abandoned army post. This will relieve 
the hospital at Pensacola by caring for the tubercular cases and 
makes it possible to get along with a smaller appropriation. The 
$25,000 approved by the Department will make it possible to im¬ 
prove the facilities at the Pensacola hospital for the care of the 
station sick and those from cruising ships. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Naval hospital at Puget Sound, 
Wash.: For the erection of naval hospital buildings (to cost not to 
exceed $150,000), $75,000.” 

Surgeon-General Rixey. The naval hospital at Puget Sound has 
only a few beds; in fact, it is more sick quarters than a hospital. 
One hundred and fifty thousand dollars will be required to build a 
hospital there. If $75,000 were allowed, work could be commenced at 
once and the limit could be fixed at $150,000. 

The Chairman. Could you not get along another year? What do 
you regard as the most important of these items ? 

Mr. Kitchin. Allow me to add that this item says to cost not to 
exceed $150,000. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. All of the public improvements asked 
for are considered of importance. The least important of the public 
works have.been stricken out by the Bureau and the Secretary has 


118 


reduced others. It is believed that the best interests of the sick of 
the coast will be conserved by making the appropriation of $75,000 
during this session of Congress, in order that preparatory work may 
be started as early as possible. 

The Chairman. How many will your present hospital accom¬ 
modate ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Seventeen is the number of beds, but they 
could put in twenty-five in an emergency. 

The Chairman. Have you many sick there ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. During the year 224 patients were ad¬ 
mitted, 191 for diseases and 33 for injuries, a total of 224. 

The Chairman. Are you building any hospitals now ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. AA r e are finishing up Annapolis, and it 
will be ready by the first of the year. AYe are getting plans for re¬ 
modeling the Norfolk hospital. 

The Chairman. AA r ill you need that other $100,000? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes; next year. 

The Chairman. But you will not need it until you are ready to 
make the payment? 

• Surgeon-General Rixey. No. 

The Chairman. Then you do not want it this year? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. The contract for the new wards and re¬ 
modeling the old building, not to exceed $200,000, will be let so soon 
as the architect’s plans are in shape for advertisement and a suitable 
bid is received. 

The Chairman. You have not yet started in on the work? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. The architects are getting the plans ready 
now. 

The Chairman. How long will it take to do the work ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. It will take a couple of years. 

The Chairman. “Naval hospital, Great Lakes: For the erection 
of naval hospital buildings (to cost not to exceed $150,000), $75,000.” 
AYhat about that ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. The new naval training station on the 
Great Lakes necessitates suitable provision for a naval hospital, which 
should be completed and ready for the reception of patients at as 
early a date as the other buildings on the station. The estimate of 
$150,000 made bv the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery will not be 
sufficient for the requirements of the station, according to Captain 
Ross and the architect who has charge of the plans for the station. A 
letter received from the architect states that the hospital, contagious 
ward, and quarters for officers will cost a total of $250,000. 

The Chairman. It seems to me that that is a good deal for. a hos¬ 
pital. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. The plans of the station are for a certain 
type of building. The hospital and officers’ quarters should corre¬ 
spond, and are estimated for on the same basis as the other buildings 
already appropriated for, the same architect making the estimates. 

The Chairman. But you will not have to begin it this year, will 
you ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. It ought to be ready by the time the other 
buildings are. AVe ought not to send any men there until we have ac¬ 
commodations for the care of sick. Mistakes have been made in 
bringing men together without proper preparation, notably at Nor- 


119 


folk and League Island, with the result that much sickness developed 
and many deaths from infectious diseases occurred which could have 
been avoided by proper preparation before assembling the recruits. 

The Chairman. That seems to be a good'deal of money. What 
have you at Newport? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. A new hospital is needed at Newport now, 
and this station may be cited as an example of the above-stated danger 
of assembling recruits before adequate hospital facilities are pro¬ 
vided. The present hospital was built under the Bureau of Naviga¬ 
tion and on a plan that has not admitted of satisfactory expansion. 
It is a wooden structure added to from time to time as necessity re¬ 
quired, until now further addition is impossible, and we have a 
patched-up, unsatisfactory building. In other words, it is a hospital 
inadequate and unsatisfactory, and can not be made to answer the 
purposes of the station without a neAv building. 

The Chairman. How much did that hospital cost? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. I don’t know; that was built before I 
came into the Bureau. But we have added to it from time to time. 
A building like that is a makeshift and the most expensive of all. In 
the establishment of a plant like the one on the Great Lakes it is 
cheaper in the long run to build buildings that will be permanent. I 
thought that officers’ quarters would be furnished out of the general 
fund, but Captain Ross said that not a cent would go for officers’ 
quarters that will be on the hospital grounds, and it will have to be 
out of money appropriated for the hospital. This would naturally in¬ 
crease the Bureau’s estimate of $150,000, and the architect’s estimate 
is for $250,000. 

The Chairman. Do you not think that you can build a building 
that will answer the purpose for $150,000? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Not to correspond with the other build¬ 
ings and build officers’ quarters and contagious ward. I can put up 
a structure that will care for the patients, but not including the 
officers’ quarters. You can build a hospital to care for the patients 
for $75,000, but in a little while you would have to do something else 
with it. The hospital ought to correspond with the general plan. 

The Chairman. They are building with red brick, I believe. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. I believe so. 

The Chairman. The next is the naval hospital, Washington, D. C. 
For the erection of an addition, symmetrical with the northeast pa¬ 
vilion, solarium, and connecting corridor, to the naval hospital, 
Washington, D. C.. $00,000. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. The original estimate for that was $200,- 
000, and it was reduced in the Department to $125,000, which amount 
was appropriated by the naval act of March 3, 1903. We want to 
add two additional wards, as it will double the capacity of the 
hospital. We had to cut off these wards in order to bring the build¬ 
ing within the estimate. 

The Chairman. Have you not got it finished yet? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Except the two wards, for which an ap¬ 
propriation is now asked. 

The Chairman. You have spent $125,000 ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes, sir; and $20,000 additional, making 
the cost of this hospital $145,000. 

The Chairman. You have the building all up? 


120 


Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes; all up and in commission, and the 
present ward facilities are not adequate for the number of patients 
that should be cared for in the hospital. 

The Chairman. Do you take in the naval men^ 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes; officers and enlisted men. 

In this hospital we take cases which are of special teaching value 
and are of great advantage to the class of young men who have re¬ 
cently entered the service and are pursuing their preparatory course 
at the Naval Medical School on the hospital grounds. This hos¬ 
pital brings these young men in touch thus early in their career 
with the special diseases and operative technique most interesting 
and important to them in the efficient performance of their subse¬ 
quent duties. It is to be noted that the expenditure of $60,000 for 
these two additional wards will practically double the capacity, and 
thus materially reduce the cost per patient, as the present building 
cost $145,000. 

The Chairman. Now you only care for the men and officers in the 
Navy? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. That is all. 

The Chairman. No outsiders? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. No. 

The Chairman. And no civilian employees? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Yes; we take them in emergencies. We 
use a portion of the hospital for dispensary work, prescribing for 
officers’ families, as well as for officers who are living at home. 

This was done to save the expense of a large dispensary. 

The Chairman. How much did that whole thing cost, all told? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. The grounds upon which this hospital is 
built were set aside for hospital purposes by the Department. The 
appropriation for building the hospital was $145,000. 

The Chairman. You were given something by another Department 
for that. 

Surgeon-General Rixey. On these hospital grounds is the building 
which accommodates the Naval Medical School and the board of ex¬ 
aminers for medical officers for entrance and promotion in the Medi¬ 
cal Corps. This building was the old Naval Observatory building 
and is adapted and used for examining board and post-graduate 
school purposes. This establishment is kept up for the purpose of mak¬ 
ing young medical officers entering the service acquainted with their 
duties as naval surgeons, and owing to the great difference between 
the practice of medicine ashore and afloat, the course given these 
young officers is of great importance. Of the diseases which thev 
meet in the Tropics many of them are never seen by civil practitioners 
or taught in medical schools. The course given in this school in bac¬ 
teriology, blood examination, etc., is entirely practical, and the young 
surgeon is shown how this work can be carried on under the disad¬ 
vantages of ship life. The chemical work is practical and deals par¬ 
ticularly with the qualitive and quantitive examination of water, food¬ 
stuffs, and pathological excretions. The course in tropical medicine 
is of inestimable value to the young man who has never visited the 
Tropics. 

The Chairman. How much did our hospital cost at Annapolis? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Two hundred thousand dollars. 

The Chairman. Have you not got enough to enlarge it ? 


121 


Surgeon-General Rixey. When this hospital, which is now nearing 
completion, is finished, the $200,000 appropriated will have been ex¬ 
pended and three wards will have been omitted. 

The Chairman. So you think you will have to add something on ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. I think it is more than probable. 

The Chairman. How many boys are there there ? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. Nine hundred and eighty-seven are au¬ 
thorized. At present there are 750 boys. This hospital will also ac¬ 
commodate the sick of the Navy who may be stationed at the academy, 
whether enlisted force or officers, and will also do emergency work for 
the civil employees. 

The Chairman. The next is “ Naval medical supply depot, Canacao, 
P. I.: For the erection of a building for the United States naval med¬ 
ical supply depot on the grounds of the naval hospital, Canacao, 
$25,000.” 

Surgeon-General Rixey. This depot has no building of its own. It 
is occupying detached parts of several buildings belonging to other 
departments of the navy-yard. During the past year its allotted 
space has been encroached upon to afford additional room for another 
department. In consequence medical stores received from the United 
States must be unpacked in the open air, and not until necessary for 
use, making proper inspection, accounting, and care thereof impos¬ 
sible, resulting in deterioration and loss. At this depot all medical 
supplies for the Navy in Asiatic waters are assembled and distrib¬ 
uted. The immediate erection of a suitable building is imperatively 
necessary for the protection of public property. This I know from 
inspection on the ground. The stores are jammed in such shape that 
it is impossible to pack them and get them in condition to ship to 
other places. A new building ought to be on the hospital grounds, 
because there they will be more easily distributed and at least expense. 

I would like to file the following statement in connection with my 
hearing: 

No changes in the phraseology of the naval appropriation act for 
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, have been made in preparing the 
estimates for the fiscal year 1908, except that under appropriation 
“ Contingent ” the words “ and rendezvous ” have been omitted where 
provision is made for washing for stations and ships, the expenses of 
the maintenance of rendezvous being provided for under the appro¬ 
priation “ Recruiting ” of the Bureau of Navigation. 

The increase in the appropriations “ Medical Department ” and 
“ Contingent,” of $15,000 and of $5,000, respectively, is necessary to 
provide for the increased expenses incident to the enlistment of 3,000 
additional men estimated for by the Bureau of Navigation. The in¬ 
crease of $5,000 under the appropriation “ Repairs ” is necessary for 
the proper preservation and repair of naval hospitals dependent upon 
this appropriation for necessary repairs to hospital buildings and ap¬ 
pendages, including roads, wharves, sidewalks, outhouses, fences, 
gardens, farms, and cemeteries. There will be in all seventeen naval 
hospitals dependent upon this appropriation for repairs during the 
fiscal year 1908. 

Under public works the Bureau has submitted estimates for the 
construction, extension, and renewal of hospital buildings and 
appendages at (a) naval hospital, Norfolk, Va.; (b) naval hospital, 
Pensacola, Fla.; ( c ) naval hospital, Puget Sound, Washington; (d) 


122 


naval hospital, Great Lakes; (e) naval hospital, Washington, I). 0.; 
(/) naval hospital, Canacao, P. I.; (g) naval medical supply depot, 
Cavite, P. I. 

(a) Naval hospital , Norfolk , Va. —For the renovation of the pres¬ 
ent hospital buildings and the erection of new wards, cost not to 
exceed $200,000, authorized by the act of Congress approved June 
29, 1906, $100,000. Of the $200,000 authorized by the act just men¬ 
tioned $100,000 was appropriated for the fiscal year 1907. 

(b) Naval hospital , Pensacola , Fla .—For the renewal of the present 
hospital buildings and for the erection of quarters for the medical 
staff outside the naval hospital, $75,000. This hospital, a light frame 
structure, was built in 1875. General repairs are required, and the 
necessity for enlargement is urgent. During the past several winters 
its capacity has been overtaxed and the efficiency of service embar¬ 
rassed. The importance of having this, the only naval hospital on 
the Gulf coast, in condition to accommodate the sick of our fleets 
when in winter rendezvous at that station is obvious. 

( c) Naval hospital , Puget Sound , Wash. —For the erection of 
naval hospital buildings, the cost not to exceed $150,000, $75,000. 
The existing building was designed for the navy-vard dispensary 
and is therefore adapted neither for hospital use nor to the hospital 
requirements of the station. There is but one other naval hospital 
on the Pacific coast of the United States. Without more ample 
facilities at this station the Department will be unable to provide 
hospital accommodations for the sick of the Navy on the Pacific 
coast. 

(d) Naval hospital , Great Lakes. —For the erection of hospital 
buildings to cost not to exceed $150,000, $75,000. The establishment 
of a naval training station on the Great Lakes necessitates suitable 
provision for a naval hospital, which should be completed and ready 
for the reception of patients at as early a date as the other build¬ 
ings on the station, 

( e ) Naval hospital , Washington , D. C. —For the erection of an 
addition symmetrical with the northeast pavilion, solarium, and con¬ 
necting corridor to the naval hospital, Washington, D. C., $60,000. 
The original estimated cost of this hospital, $200,000, was reduced 
in the Department to $125,000, which latter amount was appropri¬ 
ated by the naval act of March 3, 1903. The lowest proposal re¬ 
ceived for the complete work, after advertisement, was $24,000 in 
excess of the appropriation. In consequence of the unexpected in¬ 
creased cost of labor and material in the building trades the Bureau 
was compelled to omit from its final plans all provisions for the 
southeast pavilion symmetrical with the northeast pavilion. An¬ 
other estimate was submitted to the Congress for $60,000 to com¬ 
plete the building according to original plans and to erect the 
addition for which appropriation is now requested. Based upon this 
estimate of $60,000, an appropriation of $20,000 was made bv the 
deficiency act of March 3, 1905. The erection of this addition is 
essential to the completion of the hospital and necessary for its suf¬ 
ficient enlargement to accommodate its quota of patients. 

(/) Naval hospital , Canacao , P. /.—For the erection of additional 
wards, $50,000, and for the erection of two quarters for the medical 
staff, $20,000; in all, $70,000. The present excellent hospital build¬ 
ing is inadequate in size for the proper accommodation of the pa- 


123 


tients now being- admitted. As this is the only naval hospital in the 
1 hilippine Islands, its enlargement is necessary. 

S'j\ ‘1 medical supply depot , Cavite , P. /.—For the erection 
ox a building for the United States naval medical supply depot on 
the grounds of the naval hospital, Canacao, $25,000. This depot has 
n° building of its own, but is occupying detached parts of several 
buildings belonging to other departments of the navy-yard. During 
the past year its already limited allotment of space was further 
reduced to afford additional room for another department. In con¬ 
sequence, medical stores received from the United States must be 
unpacked in the open air and not until necessary for use, making 
proper inspection, accounting, and care thereof impossible, resulting 
in deterioration and loss. At this depot all medical supplies for the 
Navy in Asiatic waters are assembled and distributed. The imme¬ 
diate erection of a suitable building is imperatively necessary for the 
protection of public property. 

With reference to paragraph 6 of Department’s circular letter, in¬ 
viting attention to section 3663, Revised Statutes, which provides 
that full plans shall accompany any estimate submitted to Congress 
by the head of a department asking for any new specific expendi¬ 
ture, such as the erection of a public building, I have the honor to 
inform you that such plans have not been prepared in connection 
with this Bureau’s estimates for public works, for the reason that the 
Bureau has no facilities for the preparation of plans and no appro¬ 
priation from which the expenses thereof could be defrayed. 

With reference to paragraph 2 of Department’s circular letter, I 
have the honor to state that of the required annual appropriations 
under this Bureau, but one (Medical Department) is divided into 
subheads of appropriation. The following is a statement of the ap¬ 
proximate amounts expended under the appropriations mentioned 
belov r during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1906: 


Medical Department: 

Appropriated_$255, 000 

Expended for surgical necessaries_$165, 000 

Expended for civil establishment_ 85, 000 

- 250,000 


Unexpended_ 5, 000 

Naval hospital fund: 

Appropriated_ 40, 000 

Entire appropriation expended. 


Contingent: 

Appropriated_ 55, 000 

Expended (no subheads)_ 50,000 


Unexpended_ 5, 000 

Transportation of remains: 

Appropriated_ 10, 000 

Entire appropriation expended. 


Repairs: 

Appropriated_ 45, 000 

Expended (no subheads)- 87,000 


Unexpended - 8,000 

Memorandum .—Estimates 1908, reduced by the Secretary on November 15, 
1906: 

Naval hospital, Pensacola, Fla., from $75,000 to $25,000-$50, 000 























124 


I would like also to file the following statement in connection with 
my hearing, on the Hospital Corps matters. 

The facilities for nursing the sick of the Navy at present are 
entirely inadequate and can not under the present organization be 
made satisfactory. It is absolutely essential that we have a reorgan¬ 
ized Hospital Corps and give to pharmacists and hospital stewards 
the same pay as other warrant and chief petty officers receive. The 
hospital apprentices, upon whom the nursing devolves, can not be 
retained in the service as trained nurses with the inducements now 
offered them. These apprentices^, whether hospital apprentices or 
hospital apprentices first class, are taught to do their work accept¬ 
ably in about four years. At the expiration of this four years they 
are fairly competent nurses and can be relied upon to assist surgeons 
and do their nursing in a fairly satisfactory manner. What is 
needed now is greater inducement to retain them in the service. The 
bill now on the Calendar before the House (No. 12846), introduced 
by Mr. Roberts, has been passed upon by this committee and favor¬ 
ably reported. What it provides for is absolutely necessary to secure 
efficient nursing for our sick and injured. 

The bill has been approved by three Secretaries of the Navy, and 
this Bureau has urged upon Congress the needs of the service for 
over three years. I hope that it will be possible to secure its passage 
at this session of Congress. If it goes OA^er it means another year of 
difficulty in handling our sick and injured. Inefficient nursing means 
suffering for the sick and injured, and no matter how skilled your 
physician or surgeon may be, the want of trained nursing is sure to 
be felt. In the Army they have a large hospital corps organiza¬ 
tion, including trained Avomen nurses and dental surgeons. In the 
Navy you gWe us only apprentices to do our nursing. The hospital 
stewards are men of drugs, first assistant to the surgeon in operations, 
giving anesthetics when required, and in general charge of the work 
of nursing aboard ship. These chief petty officers should have the same 
pay as other chief petty officers; at present they get $60 per month, 
where other chief petty officers get $75 per month. Hospital ap¬ 
prentices do the nursing, assist the surgeon in operations, and on 
board ship generally care for the sick quarters. These men should 
be trained carefully. Under present arrangement Ave can and do 
train them, and, as stated before, they remain through their first 
enlistment; but if any reenlist, they are apt to be those that are 
least efficient. Occasionally some good men reenlist, hoping for 
more favorable legislation. 

Mr. Kitchin. Doctor, is it vour opinion that the entire medical 
service of the Navy ought to be put on practicallv the same basis 
as the service of the Army? 

Surgeon-General Rixey. So far as is practicable. The tAA r o serv¬ 
ices vary only so far as the medical service of the Navy has to be 
carried on in great part aboard ship, and there is greater need that 
the naval surgeon should have skilled nurses and assistants, for the 
reason that at sea he is deprAed of consulting Avith other surgeons or 
of obtaining assistance in operations other than that furnished by the 
hospital corps of the Navy. The naval hospitals should have all 
that the Army has to carry on their work. 

Mr. Kitchen. Including the dental surgeons ? 


125 


Surgeon-General Rixey. We need dental surgeons in the Navy just 
as much, if not more, than the Army. There is no reason why enlisted 
men of the Navy should pay for dental work while the Army en¬ 
listed man has his work done free; nor is there any reason why the 
sick of naval hospitals should be deprived of women nurses while the 
Army has as many as needed. On the contrary, it is a distinct 
advantage to be able to utilize women nurses in our hospitals in cases 
of emergency, in order that we may send our men nurses aboard 
ship. Good men nurses are hard to obtain; good women nurses are 
always plentiful. 

What we want is experienced men nurses in time of peace, and a 
nucleus of women nurses so that the hospitals can get accustomed to 
them. 

The bills which would add materially to the efficiency of the 
Medical Department are: First in importance, House bill 12846, 
reorganization of the Hospital Corps, introduced by Mr. Roberts; 
second, Senate bill 2207, establishment of corps of women nurses, 
introduced by Mr. Hale; and third, House bill 13851, appointment 
of dental surgeons, introduced by Mr. Cousins. 

UNITED STATES NAVAL HOSPITAL CORPS. 

The recommendation of the Bureau to increase the warrant grade 
of the Hospital Corps from 25, now allowed by law, to 50 was ap¬ 
proved by the Department and included in the provisions of Senate 
bill 2206 and blouse bill 12846 of the Fifty-ninth Congress, first ses¬ 
sion. The bill, however, failed to receive consideration. The in¬ 
crease in the warrant grade of the Hospital Corps proposed by this 
bill would encourage the most desirable hospital stewards to reenlist, 
and the authorization of the grade of chief pharmacist would give 
pharmacists the opportunity, now enjoyed by boatswains, gunners, 
carpenters, and warrant machinists, of promotion to the lowest com¬ 
missioned grade. 

The Naval Hospital Corps, since its organization in 1898, has 
proved a great advance toward providing for the Navy a body of 
trained ijurses and hospital stewards. A constant effort has been 
made to secure for the corps and retain in the service men of sobri¬ 
ety, intelligence, aptitude, and fair education. It is discouraging to 
note, however, that a large number of the corps do not reenlist, and 
the Navy thus loses the services of many desirable men who have had 
four years’ training and experience. New enlistments have not been 
sufficient to fill the vacancies thus created in the corps. While the 
demands of the service for men of the Hospital Corps have increased, 
their number has decreased. As present conditions do not attract 
men of the corps to reenlist and as the supply of recruits is not suffi¬ 
cient, it is therefore evident that without offering additional induce¬ 
ments in pay and in prospect of promotion it will be impossible to 
obtain for the corps the requisite number of recruits and retain in it 
experienced and trained men. 

The monthly pay now allowed for hospital stewards is $60; for 
hospital apprentices, first class, $30, and for hospital apprentices $20. 
The pay of the Hospital Corps was fixed by act of Congress which 
authorized the corps, but under present conditions this works seri¬ 
ous injustice. It is imperative that legislation be enacted to settle 


126 


this question of pay in the Hospital Corps at once and for all and 
give it a share in the benefit of Executive orders, which have up 
to the present time increased the pay of chief petty officers of the line 
one-fourth above the chief petty officers of the Hospital Corps. Ac¬ 
tual experience during the past eight years and careful study of the 
present and future needs of the service have convinced the Bureau 
that the correction of these unsatisfactory provisions of the law and 
reorganization of the Hospital Corps are imperatively necessary to 
secure and maintain a competent and efficient body of men for the 
care and treatment of the sick of the Navy. The necessity for re¬ 
organizing and increasing the efficiency of the Hospital Corps has 
been fully set forth by the Bureau in the last four annual reports. 

An organization which will meet the present needs, permit ready 
expansion in the event of Avar, and secure an efficient Naval Hospital 
Corps is, in the opinion of the bureau, provided for in Senate bill 
2206 and House bill 12846, Fifty-ninth Congress, first session. 

Present condition of the Hospital Corps. 


Rate. 

Regular 

stations. 

Special 

stations. 

Total. 

Enlist¬ 

ments. 

Short. 

Hospital stewards 

229 

270 

24 

253 

223 

30 

Hospital apprentices, first class. 

16 

286 

260 

26 

Hospital apprentices. 

383 

45 

428 

272 

156 



No allowance is made for the commissioning of new ships or 
exigencies such as is noAv the case in Cuba, Avhere 20 hospital corps 
men are stationed. 

Reasons for present condition .—1. The rating of apothecary, 
(hospital steward), was established December 8, 1866, with pay at 
$60 per month; there has been no legislation increasing this pay 
since that date. 

2. The pay is insufficient and the prospects of advancement which 
should be held out as an inducement is not adequate to attract and 
hold experienced and trained men. 

3. The fact that the Hospital Corps is deprived of the benefits of 
Executive orders increasing the pay of all other enlisted men of the 
Navy. In this connection it is to be noted that the benefits of added 
compensation for trained men provided for by the Executive orders 
of June 26, 1903, and, just recently, November 28, 1906, are not 
shared by the members of the Hospital Corps. 

Remedy for present condition .— (1) Senate bill 2206; (2) House 
bill 12846. 


Estimated increased cost should House hill 128J/6 become a laic. 

PHARMACISTS. 


(a) Present number, with highest pay, total per year__$43,000 

(&) With increased number according to bill, including chief 

pharmacists _ 75 ,180 


(c) Total increase per year__$32, ISO 
















HOSPITAL STEWARDS. 


( a ) Present number, with highest pay, total per year_1G4,160 

(&) With total increased pay according to bill---_ 166,400 

(c) Total increase per year_ 2,240 

HOSPITAL APPRENTICES, FIRST CLASS. 

(a) Present number, with pay, total per year__ 7,260 

(b) With total increased pay per year_ 10,690 

(c) Total increase per year_ 3,430 

Total increase for entire corps_ 37, 850 


Note.— This does not represent any increase over the other enlisted personnel, 
but merely places all on an equality of footing. 


BENEFITS FROM PROPOSED REMEDY. 

1. To the service .— (a) Allay serious dissatisfaction among the 
members of the Hospital Corps. 

(h) Will stimulate reenlistments and offer inducements to a class 
of men (trained nurses) now impossible to induce to enter the service. 

(c) Will insure an efficient nursing staff for the service and an in¬ 
telligent, efficient organization for those important duties of assist¬ 
ant to the surgeon in operations and preventive medicine. The Hos¬ 
pital Corps must be relied upon for all the medical and surgical 
nursing aboard our battle ships and cruisers and at our hospitals. 
They must be competent to assist in surgical operations and with the 
technique of antiseptic work, whether aboard ship or on shore. As 
these men are trained sovffll our success be in saving life in and after 
battle. Besides, in preventive medicine, especially in the Tropics, 
the trained men are invaluable in keeping the personnel in good con¬ 
dition. 





























































































































































































































[No. 6.] 


NAVAL ACADEMY—STATEMENT OF REAR-ADMIRAL JAMES H. 
SANDS, SUPERINTENDENT, ACCOMPANIED BY PROF. 0. G. 
DODGE. 


Committee on Naval Affairs, 

Friday , December 11906. 

The committee this day met, Hon. H. C. Loudenslager in the chair. 

The Acting Chairman. On page 156 of the bill I see yon have 
stricken out the word “ chemistry ” and inserted the word “ draw- 
ing.” 

Admiral Sands. I asked subsequently, but it does not appear here, 
that the name should be changed to professor of mechanical drawing, 
to agree with the modern title for that work. The professor of chem¬ 
istry has been appointed a professor of mathematics in the Navy and 
he continues to do the same work, and consequently the position of 
professor of chemistry on the civil list is not needed any longer. 

The Acting Chairman. This is really a new office? 

Admiral Sands. Which one? 

The Acting Chairman. The professor of drawing. 

Admiral Sands. It was professor of drawing before, but under a 
less salary. It is a promotion of the professor of drawing from 
$2,200 to $2,500. 

Mr. Butler. You no longer need the professor of chemistry? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir. 

Mr. Butler. And the appropriation for him may be stricken out? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir. We ask that the title be changed to pro¬ 
fessor of mechanical drawing, to allow a promotion, and that the 
position of professor of drawing at $2,200 be dropped. 

The Acting Chairman. That is practically an advance of $300? 

Admiral Sands. It is a saving, because the one at $2,200 is cut out. 

The Acting Chairman. The old professor of chemistry is still 
drawing $2,500? 

Admiral Sands. He is in the Navy; he is not a civilian appointee 
any longer. 

The Acting Chairman. You ask that this title be made professor 
of mechanical drawing; why is that? 

Admiral Sands. In order that the title may agree with his work, 
because it is not any longer free-hand drawing or sketching. 

Mr. Kitchin. What duties did this professor of chemistry per¬ 
form ? 

Admiral Sands. He was the professor of chemistry in the depart¬ 
ment of physics and chemistry. 

Mr. Kitchin. Do you mean that chemistry will be no longer 
taught ? 

n p—07-9 


129 


130 


Admiral Sands. No, sir. We will not have a professor of chem¬ 
istry, but the man who formerly held that position and who is now 
in the Navy as a professor of mathematics will probably do the same 
work. 

Mr. Kitchin. Under the title of professor of mathematics he will 
really do the work of the professor of chemistry ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. Would it not be better to retain the title professor 
of chemistry ? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir; because he has been nominated and con¬ 
firmed by the Senate and belongs to the Navy proper. This man was 
a civilian. I have professors of mathematics assigned for teaching 
languages and history. 

Mr. Kitchin. Can not the man be in the Navy and teach chemis¬ 
try? 

Admiral Sands. That is what we are doing now. 

Mr. Kitchin. What would be the objection to calling him a pro¬ 
fessor of chemistry? 

The Acting Chairman. We do not pay him and therefore he will 
not be included in the bill. 

Admiral Sands. You do not appropriate for him; the Navy proper 
provides for him. 

Mr. Butler. He gets in the bill under “ Pay of the Navy ? ” 

Admiral Sands. He does not appear here. 

Mr. Kitchin. He will now be paid under one of the first items in 
the bill? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. He does not come under the Navy 
Academy appropriation at all. He is paid from “ Pay of the Navy.” 

Mr. Kitchin. Have you other professors who are under the Navy 
and who are styled professors of mathematics and who teach other 
branches ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. What other branches? 

Admiral Sands. English, modern languages, and mathematics. 
Those are the three. 

Mr. Kitchin. In your judgment, would it not be advisable to 
amend the law so that these men would be called professors of the 
branches which they teach, even after they are in the Navy? 

Admiral Sands. I do not think so, because we have civilian profes¬ 
sors detailed for that work and paid from this appropriation. 
The Navy Department itself has a recommendation to make in 
regard to all the professors, which would cover that point without 
changing it in the Naval Academy appropriation. 

Mr. Kitchin. On its face it looks inconsistent to call a man profes¬ 
sors detailed for that work and paid from this appropriation. 

Admiral Sands. Mr. Bonaparte has recommended that they be 
called academic professors and let them teach what we may choose, 
but that is in his annual report to the President, and we do not 
know what is coming of it. 

Mr. Kitchin. Your own judgment is that the recommendation of 
the Secretary is a wise one? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; I think so. 

Mr. Butler. Then, if the suggestion of the Secretary of the Navy 
should be adopted they would all be known as academic professors'? 



131 


Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Professor Dodge. They are simply called professors at West Point. 

Mr. Butler. And these men will be assigned according to their 
qualifications? 

Admiral Sands. The law says now that they may be assigned to 
any duty that the Secretary may direct. 

Mr. Butler. This professor of chemistry, as I understand, has 
gone into the line of the Navy? 

Admiral Sands. The stall' of the Navy, not the line. He is the 
same as Professor Dodge, with less rank. 

The Acting Chairman. The next change is the reduction of one 
professor and is on account of a promotion? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. The next change is on page 157 of the 
bill, where you ask for two additional instructors? 

Admiral Sands. That is because we can not get officers and to give 
some advance to the men who have worked faithfully there, and so in¬ 
stead of putting in two more men at $1,500, I asked for the higher 
salary in order to promote the men there. It is valuable for the 
academy to keep men who have degrees and whose services at the 
academy have been faithful. 

Mr. Butler. They are civilians? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; civilians under yearly appointment. 

Mr. Kitchin. As I understand, all whose compensation is pro¬ 
vided for under the head of Naval Academy are civilian employees? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Butler. How much are the two professors who will be pro¬ 
moted receiving now ? 

Admiral Sands. The instructors. One is drawing $2,200 and will 
be dropped down to $2,000, and the other is drawing $1,500 and will 
be moved up to $2,000. 

Mr. Butler. How about the one who is dropped? 

Admiral Sands. That is a temporary appointment under this 
year’s appropriation, which will run him up to June. He was put 
into that position because it was vacant, and if we do not get this 
appropriation he will be dropped down to $1,500, but I think he is 
too valuable and I only want to drop him to $2,000. 

The Acting Chairman. Where is he now provided for? 

Admiral Sands. In the second paragraph. 

The Acting Chairman. I thought we took him and put him up to 

$ 2 , 200 . 

Admiral Sands. The man appropriated for as the professor of 
chemistry went into the Navy as a professor of mathematics, and that 
created a vacancy several months ago, and instead of letting that sal¬ 
ary lapse the professor of drawing was promoted, and an instructor 
was promoted to the position at $2,200. Now, if there is no legisla¬ 
tion making a vacancy next year he drops out of the academy 
altogether. 

Mr. Butler. If this shifting about takes place, it will leave, then, 
two vacancies, as I understand, in the lower grade of instructors? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Butler. These two places will be filled by others w T ho are not 
now in the service? 


132 


Admiral Sands. Not now in the service. 

The Acting Chairman. Last year we provided for 9 in these two 
first paragraphs. Now, this year we provide for 8, which is 1 less, and 
that other 1 is provided for in the Navy, which makes 9? 

Admiral Sands. There are 9 there now, the vacancy being filled up 
to next June. 

The Acting Chairman. That leaves one of the men out of a job? 

Admiral Sands. No; he will be a $1,500 man if you do not give 
him a $2,000 position. 

The Acting Chairman. We took care of that man in the other 
paragraph. 

Professor Dodge. But the vacancy that was made has also been 
filled. 

Admiral Sands. We appointed another man to fill the place, but 
instead of letting him drop down to $1,500 I want to drop him to 
$ 2 , 000 . 

The Acting Chairman. Where do you cut out the $1,500 man? 

Admiral Sands. I do not; I am asking for two more men. 

The Acting Chairman. At $2,000 a year ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. One of the men I am going to put there 
is drawing $2,200. 

Professor Dodge. We drop one at $2,200 and add two at $2,000. 

The Acting Chairman. The $2,200 man is getting more money ? 

Professor Dodge. No, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. I mean out of the pay of the Navy. 

Professor Dodge. That is filling a vacancy. Somebody died or 
retired and the vacancy was filled by this appointment. It was not 
a position created. 

Admiral Sands. He filled a vacancy caused by retirement. 

The numbers and pay of civil professors and instructors now al¬ 
lowed and requested for next year are as follows: 



Now allowed. 

Requested. 


No. 

Amount. 

Total. 

No. 

Amount. 

Total. 

Professors. 

1 


$3,000 
12,500 
8,000 
6,000 
7,200 
15,000 

1 


$3,000 
12,500 
6,600 
10,000 
7, 200 
15,000 

Do. 

5 

$2,500 
2,200 
2,000 
1,800 
1,500 

5 

$2,500 
2,200 
2,000 
1,800 
1,500 

Do. 

4 

3 

Instructors. 

3 

5 

Do. 

4 

4 

Do .. 

10 

10 


Total. 

27 


52,500 

28 


54,300 





This shows an increase of one in the number allowed and of $1,800 
in the total appropriation for this purpose. 

It is suggested to the committee that requests for change of title 
may be avoided by omitting the subject which they are to teach and 
appropriating simply for professors, as is now done for instructors. 
They will then be appointed by the Secretary of the Navy as “ pro¬ 
fessors ” (at the Naval Academy), and will be assigned by the super¬ 
intendent to the department needing their services." This is the exact 
method followed in the case of all instructors and the system works 
satisfactorily. 

The Acting Chairman. The next change is one cataloguer at 
$1,100. That is new? 
























133 


Admiral Sands. In accordance with the recommendations of a 
board which I appointed to consider the needs of the library, and 
also in conformity with the later report of the board of visitors, the 
following organization of the library staff was recommended to the 
Department: 



No. 

Amount. 

Remarks. 

Assistant librarian. 

1 

$1,800 

1,200 

Now allowed. 

Cataloguer. 

1 

Requested. 
Now allowed 

Shelf assistant (title changed). 

1 

1,000 

Shelf assistant. 

1 

900 

as assistant 
librarian. 
Requested. 




The increase is 1 cataloguer at $1,200, and 1 shelf assistant at $900. 
The title of the assistant librarian at $1,000 is changed to shelf as¬ 
sistant to conform with his duties, and to place him below the higher 
paid cataloguer. 

The wording of the appropriation should be as follows: 

* * *; one assistant librarian, at one thousand eight hundred dollars; one 

cataloguer, at one thousand two hundred dollars; one shelf assistant, at one 
thousand dollars, and one at nine hundred dollars. 

The library now has 47,000 volumes, and is increasing at the rate 
of about 1,000 volumes per annum. In its present restricted quar¬ 
ters it is frequently used by over 200 midshipmen at the same time. 
The catalogue is obsolete in form, and the older part has faded out 
so that it is of no further use. The whole library should be recata¬ 
logued, using the standard card of the Library of Congress, which 
has become almost universal in large libraries. 

Exclusive of the professor of English, who is detailed as librarian, 
this will give a staff of 4 assistants to do all the work of a library 
of 50,000 volumes, used by 800 to 900 midshipmen, in addition to the 
officers and professors of the academy. 

I asked for $1,200 for the pay of this cataloguer, upon the report 
of the board which was ordered upon the needs of the library. 
That sum was changed in the Department. I do not know why. 
Then right below, under the title “ Shelf assistants,” the pay of one 
man was reduced $100. He is now getting a thousand dollars. I 
only asked for a change of title in his case, and in changing his title 
they dropped him down $100 a year. 

Mr. Butler. Why did you suggest a change in title? 

Admiral Sands. Because there are 47,000 volumes in the new 
library and I wanted to get it on a proper working basis at once, 
and that is the usual designation for all libraries with a limited 
number of people. 

Mr. Butler. The man will do the same work ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Butler. Then why change the title when he is going to do 

the work? „ i . 1 

Admiral Sands. It is simply the report of this board that was 
ordered. After correspondence with various libraries they reported 
that that would be the proper way to reorganize the library. 

Mr. Butler. This library is supported out of the appropriation 
of $3,000? 














134 


Professor Dodge. Only about $2,500; $500 goes for text-books. 

The Acting Chairman. This position of cataloguer is new ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; entirely. 

The Acting Chairman. What is the need of it? 

Admiral Sands. We would like to get somebody to catalogue the 
library and we want to give him the same title as in other libraries. 

The Acting Chairman. Who has been doing that work? 

Admiral Sands. Nobody. 

Mr. Dawson. Would the assistant librarian be competent to fill 
the position? 

Admiral Sands. The cataloguing of libraries is now done by ex¬ 
perts in that work. The position should be filled by the appointment 
of such an expert. 

Mr. Dawson. You drop one assistant at $1,000. Will you put him 
in the position of cataloguer? 

Admiral Sands. The board has recommended that the title of the 
assistant librarian at $1,000 be changed to “ shelf assistant.” I am 
following the report of the board, which has been included in the 
report of the board of visitors, and which contains the recommenda¬ 
tions of the board of visitors. They read it over and they concluded 
that that was the best way to reorganize the library force. 

Mr. Ivitchin. Is this cataloguer to be a permanent position ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. By about what number of books is the library in¬ 
creasing annually ? 

Admiral Sands. I can not tell you. 

Professor Dodge. I think the library report gives the total increase. 

Mr. Butler. When you revise your testimony please put it in. 

The Acting Chairman. Two thousand five hundred dollars a year 
is spent on it? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; I think so. 

Professor Dodge. About a thousand volumes a year has been the 
average increase for the last thirty-five years, and that is probably 
a good estimate—a thousand volumes a year. 

Admiral Sands. The man has five years’ work ahead of him in 
cataloguing. 

Mr. Kitchin. That is the reason I asked if it was to be a per¬ 
manent position. 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; he would be busy keeping the catalogue 
corrected all the time. It seems to me it would be well worth the pay 
of a man to do that. 

The Acting Chairman. The next change is the two shelf assistants, 
at $900 each? 

Admiral Sands. One of those men is getting a thousand dollars 
now, and we asked for a change of title. 

The Acting Chairman. They gave you an extra man ? 

Admiral Sands. They reduced his salary $100, and that is some¬ 
thing I did not ask for/ I would rather keep him with the same title 
and have him keep his pay. 

Mr. Butler. Under what title was the man paid? 

Admiral Sands. As assistant librarian, at $1,000. 

Mr. Butler. I thought the cataloguer was going to take that 
position. 


Admiral Sands. I do not know as to that. I would like to have the 
pay restored to what I recommend it and the thousand dollars 
restored to the man who is getting a thousand dollars now. I do not 
want him reduced. 

Mr. Dawson. He is in the current law as assistant librarian, at 

$ 1 , 000 ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Ivitchin. It may be well to leave him at $1,000 and put the 
other man in as one shelf assistant ? 

Professor Dodge. Then the assistant librarian would be ranked by 
the cataloguer. 

The Acting Chairman. The next change is on page 158, u One 
mechanic in the department of ordnance, at $751.20? ” 

Admiral Sands. That is absolutely necessary in order to care for 
the arms in the armory. The armory is a large place and the arms are 
not properly cared for. There is no possible way of preventing mis¬ 
chievous persons from carrying off what they want, and the arms can 
not be kept clean and in repair for 800 midshipmen. 

The present armory force and the increase asked is shown in the 
following table: 


1 mechanic (allowed), at_ $951.52 

1 mechanic (requested), at_ 751.20 

1 armorer (allowed), at_ 649.50 

1 chief gunner’s mate (allowed), at_ 529.50 

1 quarter gunner (allowed), at_ 469.50 

2 quarter gunners (requested), at $469.50 each_ 939.00 

4 attendants (allowed), at $300 each_ 1,200.00 


Total_ 5,490.22 


They have the care of a building (the armory) 100 by 420 feet, con¬ 
taining six class rooms, two offices, a testing room, a shop, toilets, and 
a drill floor 100 by 350 feet. They also care for the small arms (about 
1,000 rifles, revolvers, etc.) and equipment, the field artillery pieces, 
and the great guns, mounted in a shed outside. The force, if in¬ 
creased as requested, will be very small for the amount of work to be 
done. 

The Acting Chairman. What is the use of all that language? 
You could just say, two mechanics, one at $951.52 and one at $751.20. 

Professor Dodge. That whole appropriation could be revised. 
That was brought about by one item being put in at a time. 

Admiral Sands. We tried that last year, but it was found that they 
could not make comparisons with comfort, and they went back to the 
old system in order to see what the changes were. 

The Acting Chairman. You will have no more cadets next year 
than this year? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; there will be more, but not many more. 

Mr. Kitchin. I think we either ought to put these salaries at some 
round number or else we ought to keep the per diem in instead of the 
total. For instance, here is one mechanic at $751.20? 

Professor Dodge. I do not remember the rate. That is probably 
estimated on a certain amount per day for three hundred and thirteen 
days. It amounts to $2.40 per day. 

Mr. Ivitchin. It seems to me it would be better to pay a per diem 
employee at so much a day, and if he is really an annual employee 
then he ought to be paid an annual salary, and put it down in round 











136 


dollars and not cents. I notice also lower down on the page that one 
man’s salary is increased 18 cents over last year? 

Professor Dodge. I will explain that. There is an increase of two 
quarter gunners. When the estimate was submitted to the superin¬ 
tendent it was at the rate of $469.68, and the pay of the third man 
was made to agree with it in order to make one item of the three 
quarter gunners. The annual salary of $469.50 is at the rate of $1.50 
per day and. should be retained. 

Admiral Sands. If you have a per diem man you can not work him 
at all times without falling foul of the Civil Service Commission, 
and sometimes it is necessary to call on them for work at night. 

Professor Dodge. Eight hours is a day’s work for per diem em¬ 
ployees, and then we can not call on them for anything more. 

Mr. Kitchin. Does that same thing apply "to your annual em¬ 
ployees ? 

Professor Dodge. No, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. I thought for overtime they got paid. 

Professor Dodge. We have a specific annual appropriation, and 
therefore no money to pay them overtime. 

Mr. Butler. What duties will this mechanic have to perform ? 

Admiral Sands. He has to keep the arms in repair, superintend the 
cleaning of the house; and also he has the batteries to look out for, 
all different caliber guns, all that work—everything in the ordnance 
department in the way of mechanical appliances. 

The Acting Chairman. It seems to me the gist of the whole 
matter is whether you will have more ordnance or more cadets next 
year. 

Admiral Sands. It is the same material. 

The Acting Chairman. Is it deteriorating now? 

Admiral Sands. It will if we do not get somebody to take care of it. 

The Acting Chairman. Is it not taken care of now? 

Admiral Sands. Not as it should be. It is not being taken care of. 

The Acting Chairman. You have not enough assistants? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. That is the need? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. I have a comparative statement of the 
Military and Naval academies showing that for half the number of 
cadets the Military Academy gets $60,000 more appropriation, and 
it is not to be supposed that they are receiving any more than they 
absolutely need. 

The Acting Chairman. The reason for that is you have not 
enough force? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir; we have not. 

Mr. Butler. The cadets have not the time to do the work? 

Admiral Sands. They can not do anything. They are continu¬ 
ally engaged with their studies. They have not time to do anvthing. 
They are worked harder than any men I know of. 

Mr. Lilley. I think you are right. 

Admiral Sands. There is no question about it. 

The Acting Chairman. You ask for two additional quarter gun¬ 
ners ? 

Admiral Sands. They are asked for for the same reason. 

The Acting Chairman. Why should that item be increased two 
and the other one ? 


137 


Admiral Sands. It is an increase of three. 

Mr. Butler. What is a quarter gunner? 

Admiral Sands. A man who looks out for the arms and keeps the 
armament in order. The naval title is of a man who has charge of a 
certain battery. The higher positions are the ones that keep them 
in repair, and the lower ones are those who clean them, and if intelli¬ 
gent enough they help also to repair them. 

Mr. Butler. Have you had force enough in this department to do 
the work? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir. We have not force enough in any depart¬ 
ment to do the work. 

The Acting Chairman. The arms are in only about 33 per cent of 
order at the present time ? 

Professor Dodge. There is the present force [exhibiting paper]. 

The Acting Chairman. How many quarter gunners have you 
now ? 

Admiral Sands. Only one. 

The Acting Chairman. That is the one you call chief gunner’s 
mate? 

Admiral Sands. No; the item is right below that. 

The Acting Chairman. You have one and you ask for three to per¬ 
form the necessary work, which would be indicative to my mind that 
at the present time only 33 per cent of it is being done. 

Admiral Sands. The men that we have must work very hard to 
keep the property in fairly serviceable condition. 

Professor Dodge. They work on all kinds of work—cleaning up the 
building, etc. 

Mr. Lilley. This is the only Government place I have been to 
where they did not have enough help to do the work properly. 

The Acting Chairman. The next item is “ three seamen,” on page 
359 of the bill. 

Professor Dodge. That is not an increase. They are already in the 
bill. You w T ill find farther down in the bill two seamen stricken out. 

The Acting Chairman. The next item is an increase of four 
attendants at recitation rooms. 

Professor Dodge. There are two stricken out right above. It is 
only an increase of two. 

The Acting Chairman. That is an increase of two? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. They are needed for the same reason ? 

Admiral Sands. That is the least possible number that we can get 
along with; yes, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. On page 160 of the bill you are asking for 
one printer at $720 and one printer at $480? 

Admiral Sands. Because the Navy Department is going to with¬ 
draw the printers we have now and leave me with none. We have to 
do a great deal of printing and we will have no means of doing it. 

Mr. Butler. Have you not an appropriation now for a printer? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir; we have an enlisted man. 

Mr. Butler. And the Navy Department proposes to withdraw that 
man ? 

Admiral Sands. We have a printer, who is a yeoman, and a volun¬ 
tary devil who is learning the trade, and the Navy Department is 
going to withdraw the yeoman from us. 


138 


Mr. Butler. Why? 

Admiral Sands. They are taking everybody, and we must depend 
upon ourselves. They will give me no man. 

Mr. Butler. WTiy do they throw you entirely upon your own 
resources ? 

Admiral Sands. They wish to send the men to sea. 

Mr. Dawson. You have a printing plant there? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. We only ask for a small force. 

The Acting Chairman. How is this other man paid iioav ? 

Admiral Sands. He is not being paid. He is simply helping us 
out. 

The Acting Chairman. Without any compensation? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. Does this appropriation provide for him? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; him or some one equally as good. 

Mr. Butler. What sort of printing do you have to do ? 

Admiral Sands. General orders of all kinds, and they are constant, 
every day, and the little work that pertains particularly to the 
academy and not to the outside. 

Mr. Butler. This printing is absolutely necessary for the conduct 
of the academy ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Dawson. Do you print your own blanks? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; all the blanks. Just the other day I had 
to distribute 1,000 general orders, which I could not have done if 

1 did not have a printing press. I gave the printer the typewritten 
copy, and he set it up and ran it off in two hours. 

The Acting Chairman. The Committee on Printing is endeavor¬ 
ing, so far as possible, to center all the printing at one establishment, 
and is steadily advancing on that ground that all the Government 
printing must be done at one place. 

Admiral Sands. Sometimes the need is sudden. For example, a 
doctor reports to me that a certain house has smallpox and it is neces¬ 
sary to quarantine it. I have to get out an order immediately and 
that order has to go to everybody connected with the academy within 

2 miles, and it has to go out at once; that could not be done if I had to 
make the requisition on the Government Printing Office. 

The Acting Chairman. You could have those in blank with every¬ 
thing except the house. 

Admiral Sands. Somebody would have to print that in. 

The Acting Chairman. It could be written in. 

Admiral Sands. Then I would have to get another clerk, which 
would cost more. We have been trying to get a new clerk through 
the Civil Service Commission, but nobody is willing to come for the 
pay that we offer. 

At this point I wish to call the committee’s attention to the neces¬ 
sity of a small clerical force for duty in the academic departments. 
The clerical work of these departments has heretofore been done by 
the officers and instructors, but has now become so great that an 
increase in the number of instructors will be necessary unless other 
provision is made to take care of it. Instead of submitting an increase 
in the number of instructors to the Secretary I asked for four clerks 
for eight departments, at $1,000 each, as the "cost would be less. This 


139 


item was eliminated from the estimates by the Secretary, but should 
be allowed by the committee for the above reasons, as follows: “ Four 
clerks at $1,000 each, $4,000.” 

The Acting Chairman. On page 161 there is a reorganization and 
reclassification of the musical people at the academy ? 

Admiral Sands. The idea is to reorganize the band. 

The Acting Chairman. I thought we raised the pay a year or two 
ago? 

Professor Dodge. You did raise the pay a few years ago. 

Mr. Butler. Is not the music good enough ? 

Admiral Sands. It is not a question of that, it is a question of the 
people who have been in the service, two of them a great many 
years, and when the time comes for them to drop out they do not 
go on the retired list, but drop out completely, and they have been 
before Congress for relief a number of times. It was suggested that 
this legislation would put the band upon a proper footing and take 
care of those people when they grew old. One man has been there 
about forty-two years, and he is now ready to drop out. 

Mr. Butler. Do they get the civilian pension? 

Admiral Sands. The Navy Department is not willing that those 
people should come in and get the benefit of pensions, although they 
have been doing military duty all these years, and for a number of 
years they have been of the opinion that they were in the Navy, 
but when this question of pension came up it was found that they 
were not in the Navy. 

Mr. Dawson. Our committee looked into that some last year, and 
my recollection is that this provision does not yet bring it up to the 
same standard as the band at the Military Academy? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir. The band is made up partly of enlisted 
men and partly of civilians, and at any time the enlisted part may 
be taken and sent off to sea and bring our band down to two-thirds 
its present size. It is rather a small band for a brigade of nine 
hundred or a thousand midshipmen. It is not adequate. 

The Acting Chairman. What pay does an ensign in the Navy 
get ? 

Professor Dodge. It is $1,540. It is $1,400 for a man coming in 
from private life and 10 per cent for five years, $1,540. 

The Acting Chairman. Does he not get for every five years a 
still further increase? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir; up to 40 per cent. 

The Acting Chairman. How much would this man draw if all 
his service was credited? 

Professor Dodge. About 40 per cent. I should judge he had been 
there about twenty years. 

The Acting Chairman. About $2,000? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir; $1,960. 

The Acting Chairman. What is the pay that these 33 musicians 
would be entitled to—that is, what is the difference in pay ? 

Professor Dodge. I have not that information. 

Mr. Dawson. The old band provided for 29 musicians and this 
provision is for 46 ? 

Admiral Sands. The old band had to furnish music for a length 
of line of 300 midshipmen; now it has to go three times the length 
of that line, and it requires a greater volume of sound. 


140 


Professor Dodge. There are 16 enlisted men in addition. 

Mr. Dawson. That would make it practically the same number as 
you have now? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir; we are merely putting these men on a 
common basis. 

Mr. Dawson. You say that 16 are enlisted ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; they are in the service, and when their 
time expires and they are ready to be reenlisted they must be sent to 
another place; we can not keep them. 

Mr. Butler. Why? 

Admiral Sands. They want them at sea. 

The Acting Chairman. What would these men get under this 
plan ? 

Professor Dodge. It depends on their length of service. 

The Acting Chairman. Just on the first enlistment; that is, with¬ 
out allowing any additional pay for reenlistment? 

Professor Dodge. Twelve thousand five hundred and forty dollars 
is the present pay of the civil band and $18,848 with the enlisted force. 

The enlisted band proposed, neglecting the small increase for 
length of service, would cost $19,192 per annum, an increase of $844. 
The following table gives the estimate in detail: 

PROPOSED BAND. 


Band leader___$1, 960 

Second band leader_ 600 

33 musicians, first class, at $32 per month__12, 672 

31 musicians, second class, at $30 per month_ 3, 960 


Total proposed cost___19,192 


PRESENT BAND. 

Civil force: 

Band master_$1, 200 

21 first-class musicians, at $420 ($35 per month)_ 8,820 

7 second-class musicians, at $360 ($30 per month)_ 2,520 

- 12, 540 

Enlisted force: 

1 band master, at $52 per month_ 624 

1 first musician, at $36 per month_ 432 

8 musicians, first class, at $32 per month_ 3, 092 

6 musicians, second class, at $30 per month_ 2,160 

-- 6, 308 


Total present cost_18, 848 


Mr. Lilley. What other means of livelihood have these musicians? 
Do they work at other trades? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir; shoemaking and various other trades. 
They also play at the theater. 

The Acting Chairman. Would they continue to do that if en¬ 
listed ? 

Admiral Sands. I do not know. We only work them four hours 
a day as a rule- 

The Acting Chairman. Why should they be enlisted ? 

Admiral Sands. We want to get them on a sound basis, so that we 
can get the best men possible to furnish the music; and with the 
prospect of something afterwards in the way of retirement we can 
get better men and have them under military discipline. 



















141 


The Acting Chairman. If they have the benefits of retirement and 
all the benefits of an enlisted man, should they not also have the 
incumbrances of an enlisted man ? 

Admiral Sands. No, sir. We want to keep these men at the 
Naval Academy, the idea being to raise as far as possible the tone 
of the Naval Academy and to have the very best that is obtainable 
for the academy in order that the best men will always be trying to 
get there and give us the best for the education of the midshipmen. 

The Acting Chairman. That means completely under military 
discipline and under your care and sight? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. And not go out and make some other 
compensation ? 

Admiral Sands. There is nothing to prevent an enlisted man on 
liberty from working at anything he pleases for compensation. 

The Acting Chairman. But they do not get liberty every day? 

Admiral Sands. These men all sleep outside the academy and have 
their families outside. A man is not going to live around a place 
long without having somebody to comfort him. Before passing to 
the next appropriation 1 wish to call the committee’s attention to the 
appropriation for mess men. The Navy Department has decided 
that I can not have any mess attendants for the midshipmen afloat 
to be supplied from the naval appropriation, and I do not know how 
these midshipmen are to be served on board the practice ships. The 
law says if enlisted men are discharged for any cause but physical 
disability they must return the clothing outfit, and the cost of this 
outfit is just exactly what their wages are for three months; and 
therefore they would serve three months with no pay at all. You 
can not expect any man to do that, and I do not know how we are 
going to get along, unless we can have them enlisted at the Naval 
Academy for special service. 

Mr. Lillet. Have you studied the subject of competent waiters 
and help in the mess? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Lilley. Have you asked for it here? 

Admiral Sands. I have given the whole statement here and I have 
asked for nothing. 

Mr. Lilley. Why do you not ask for it ? 

Admiral Sands. I did not expect to come up here until the 15th of 
January, and I did not get my remarks in condition to present to you 
before I was summoned to this hearing. I submit herewith a com¬ 
parative statement of the present cost of mess men and the cost if the 
same positions are filled by enlistment, which shows that the only 
additional expense to the Government is that due to relieving the 
midshipmen of a charge of about $8,000. 

The appropriation now made by Congress for employees of the mid- 

Total expense___— 3i>, 291. 50 

The cost of mess men enlisted for the practice cruise was- 8,166. 00 


Total expense to Government- 

Expense of midshipmen for additional help. 


30, 831. 50 
8, 460. 00 


Total expense. 


39<, 291. 50 









142 

To provide an enlisted force to replace the civil list will require the 
following employees: 


2 chief commissary stewards, at .$70_per month— $140 

1 commissary steward_d°- ^ 

S stewards, at $50_do- 150 

2 stewards, at $35 _do- 70 

3 ship’s cooks, tirst class, at $55_ do- 165 

21 ship’s cooks, fourth class, at $25_do- 525 

5 mess attendants, first class, at $24_do- 120 

300 mess attendants, third class, at $16-do- 1 , 600 

2 bakers, first class, at $45_._do- 90 

1 baker, second class_do- 35 


2, 955 

Increased pay of 5 mess attendants as stewards for cruise- 220 


Total per month_ 3, 175 

Total per annum_38, 100 


To carry out the above recommendations the following legislation 
is suggested, to be substituted for the estimate for stewards, cooks, 
waiters, etc., as shown on the draft of the bill now before the com¬ 
mittee : 

Pay of stewards, cooks, bakers, mess attendants, and others for duty 
in the midshipmen’s mess ashore and afloat on the practice cruises 
of the midshipmen_$40, 000 

Provided , That the employees of the midshipmen’s mess shall be enlisted for 
one year for special service at the academy and afloat in practice ships with 
the midshipmen : Provided further, That the said employees of the midship¬ 
men’s mess who may be enlisted as above provided shall not be entitled to any 
gratuity or increase of pay for reenlistments, to any rations or commutation 
therefor, or to retirement for age, length of service, or for any other cause: 
Provided further, That the enlistments herein authorized may be made at any 
time subsequent to the passage of this act, the men so enlisted to be paid for 
the remainder of this fiscal year from any unexpended balances of the appro¬ 
priation “ Pay of professors and others, Naval Academy,” for the fiscal year 
ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and seven. 

As this completes all the items under the heading of “ Pay of pro¬ 
fessors and others, Naval Academy,” I wish to offer at this point a 
rearrangement of the items, in which the employees are grouped in 
the proper sequence. This rearrangement is made so that the com¬ 
mittee can see at a glance the total employees of each office or depart¬ 
ment. This arrangement of the items has been repeatedly suggested 
by members of the committee and is submitted for that reason. In 
the cases of the few annual employees not so shown I have changed 
the amount of pay per annum to an even amount in dollars, omitting 
the cents, as suggested by a member of the committee. 

Pay of professors and others, Naval Academy. 


Professors, instructors, and library staff: 

1 professor as head of department_$ 3 , 000 

5 professors, at $2,500 each_ 12 ’ 500 

3 professors, at $2,200 each (decrease of 1)_ a 600 

5 instructors, at $2,000 each (increase of 2)_10.000 

4 instructors, at $1,800 each_ 7 ] 200 

10 instructors, at $1,500 each__ 15 , 000 

1 swordmaster at $1,500, 1 assistant at $1,200, and two assistants 

at $ 1,000 each_ 4 700 

2 instructors in physical training, at $1,500 each_ 3 ’ 000 

1 instructor in gymnastics at $ 1,200 and 1 assistant at $ 1,000 _ 2 , 200 



























I assistant librarian_$1,800 

1 cataloguer_ 1 , 200 

1 shelf assistant at $1,000 and 1 at $900__ 1, 900 

Superintendent’s office: 

1 secretary- 1,800 

2 clerks, at $1,200 each. 1 at $1,000. and 1 at $900_ 4, 300 

Office of commandant of midshipmen: 

1 clerk at $1,200, 1 at $1,000, and 1 writer at $720_ 2,920 

Paymasters' office: 

1 clerk at $1,200 and 1 at $1,000_ 2,200 

Academic departments: 

4 clerks, at $1,000 each_ 4, 000 

Miscellaneous: 

1 dentist- 1, 000 

1 printer at $720 and 1 at $480_ 1, 200 

Services of organist at chapel_ 300 

Department of seamanship: 

1 coxswain_ 4G8 

3 seamen, at $396 each_ 1, 188 

Department of ordnance: 

1 mechanic at $960 and 1 at $720_ 1, 680 

1 armorer_ 648 

1 chief gunner’s mate_ 528 

3 quarter gunners, at $468 each_ 1, 404 

Department of physics: 

1 electrical machinist_ 1, 000 

2 mechanics, at $720 each_ 1, 440 

Messengers and attendants: 

1 messenger to the Superintendent_ 600 

20 attendants at recitation rooms, library, store, chapel, armory, 

gymnasium, and offices, at $300 each- 6, 000. 

Pay of stewards, cooks, bakers, mess attendants, and others, for duty in 
the midshipmen's mess ashore, and afloat on the practice cruises of 
the midshipmen- 40, 000 


Provided . That the employees of the midshipmen’s mess shall be enlisted for 
one year, for special sendee at the academy and afloat in practice ships with 
the midshipmen: Provided further. That the said employees of the midship¬ 
men’s mess, who may be enlisted as above provided, shall not be entitled to 
any gratuity or increase of pay for reenlistments, to any rations or commuta¬ 
tion therefor, or to retirement for age, length of service, or for any other 
cause: Provided further. That the enlistments herein authorized in this sec¬ 
tion may be made at any time subsequent to the passage of this act, the men 
so enlisted to be paid for the remainder of this fiscal year from any unex¬ 
pended balances of the appropriation “ Pay of professors and others,” Naval 
Academy, for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1907. 

Provided, That the Naval Academy band shall consist of one leader, who 
shall have the rank, pay, and allowances of a second lieutenant in the Marine 
Corps; one second leader, with pay at the rate of fifty dollars per month; 
thirty-three musicians, first class, and eleven musicians, second class: Pro¬ 
vided further, That all members of the Naval Academy band shall be regularly 
enlisted for four years in the Navy for special service at the Naval Academy: 
And provided further, That the laws relating to pay and retirements of en¬ 
listed men of the Navy be, and the same are hereby, made to apply to members 
of the Naval Academy band: And provided further, That all members of the 
band shall be credited with all prior service of whatever nature in said band, 
as shown by the records of the Naval Academy and pay rolls of the ships 
attached to the academy. 


The Acting Chairman. On page 1G2 you ask for an increase of 
one man ? 

Admiral Sands. We ask for a lot of men. 

The Acting Chairman. The second captain of the watch is the 


first one ? 

Admiral Sands. That is simply an increase of force, 
o-et that man as an assistant to the captain of the watch. 


I want to 
























144 

The Acting Chairman. That will not be needed unless the force 
is increased. 

Admiral Sands. I think you will give me the force when I call 
attention to the fact as to why it is needed. 

The Acting Chairman. The next item is an increase of 15 watch¬ 
men? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. In the middle of September every avail¬ 
able marine at the academy was taken from the ships and from the 
barracks and sent down to Cuba. At the same time one of my seven 
watchmen got sick and another one resigned. That left five watch¬ 
men to guard the entire place. I was compelled to keep the draw 
open and I had to close up two gates, and there was no way that I 
know of to have prevented anybody evilly disposed coming in and 
taking anything they wanted. Men did come over the walls and 
rob the apartments of officers on the ground floor. There was no 
possibility of protecting them. We do not know of any Government 
property being lost. I think at all times we should have a sufficient 
force, so that no sudden demand in our foreign possessions could call 
away the people who are supposed to do the work of guarding the 
public property. We have only the services of a few marines 
now—I think 19. 

The watchmen are divided into three shifts of eight hours each, 
two on a shift. The extra man fills in on account of absences on 
leave or sickness, and is at other times stationed at the main entrance 
to the academy. The two watchmen on duty at one time act as a 
patrol of the entire grounds, about 115 acres, bounded by 4,600 feet 
of wall on the city side and 6,800 feet of water front. They perform 
the duties of policemen for this entire area. On the occasions of 
large drills, hops, brill games, and other large gatherings the watch¬ 
men are detailed for extra work, so that they average about ten hours 
per day. The area to be covered is so great that the watch force can 
not accomplish the work which they are expected to do. 

There should be sufficient watchmen for the following detail: One 
captain of the watch, 1 second captain of the watch, 6 watchmen for 
patrol of grounds, three shifts of 2 each; 9 watchmen for gates 2, 
3, 4, three shifts of 3 each; 6 watchmen for Bancroft Hall and 
vicinity, three shifts of 2 each; 1 watchman to fill in during annual 
leaves of others; a total watch force of 24 men. 

As a matter of comparison it should be noted that watch force of 
61 men is employed on the State, War, and Xavy building, 24 on the 
Treasury building, and 20 on the Congressional* Library. 

The Acting Chairman. You need a sufficient force to watch these 
different buildings and to guard them, and they should be entirely 
outside the control of the Xavv Department ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. And under your control? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; we want men who can tell whether the 
regulations are being broken and whether proper persons are^omino" 
into the grounds. There is not anything in the world to keep im¬ 
proper people out at the present time. 

Mr. Butler. How many marines did you have before ? 

Admiral Sands. About 250. 


145 


The following item was missed at the hearing: 

Labor at power house: For masons, carpenters, and other mechanics, laborers 
and attendants, and for care of buildings and grounds, wharves and boats. 

An estimate of $115,384.90 was submitted to the Department, but 
was reduced $35,000 by the Secretary before being transmitted to 
Congress. 

The estimate as submitted to the Department was the minimum 
amount actually needed, and the appropriation of a less amount will 
result in serious interference with the operation of the academy and 
a deterioration in public property for want of proper care. The 
actual operating cost under this head at the present time is $9,000 
per month, with all gangs reduced to the lowest limit and much nec¬ 
essary work actually abandoned. An itemized estimate has been pre¬ 
pared on a basis of the least number of employees necessary to operate 
the power plant, care for Bancroft Hall, and do the repair work of 
the academy. Omitting minor quantities, this estimate can be sum¬ 
marized as follows: 

Power plant, furnishing steam heat, electric light and power, and in¬ 


cluding steam fitters and plumbers__$45, 000 

Masons, carpenters, plasterers, and painters_ 40, 000 

Bancroft Hall (cleaning force)_ 25,000 

Miscellaneous _ 5, 000 


Total_115,000 


Of the above items No. 1 represents the present actual running cost. 
In order not to exceed the appropriations for the current year the 
other items have been reduced, to the serious detriment of the work. 

It will be practically impossible to avoid a deficiency under this 
head unless the amount asked is allowed. 

The Acting Chairman. The next change is on page 164, where 
appears the item “ To reimburse appropriation, pay of watchmen, 
mechanics, and others,” $4,000? 

Admiral Sands. That is for overtime, and was caused by running 
the summer school. We had to employ people who would otherwise 
have been discharged. 

Professor Dodge. That amount was spent out of this year’s appro¬ 
priation, and it is simply to reimburse the appropriation for this 
year. 

Mr. Kitchin. It should then go in as a deficiency ? 

Professor Dodge. No; I think it has been done frequently. 

Admiral Sands. This is so we will not be in the same fix next sum¬ 
mer. From July to September we had 300 midshipmen. We em¬ 
ployed the men in the summer to do the work of keeping the school 
open which was heretofore closed. Now, we have as many midship¬ 
men to look out for in the summer as we used to have in the full 
battalion. 

Mr. Lilley. You have a summer school? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. We had 300 last summer. 

Mr. Lilley. Did you ever have that school before ? 

Professor Dodge. Not to such an extent. 

Admiral Sands. They have thrown another class on me this year 
of 200 because of the impossibility of providing practice ships for 
the entire number of midshipmen. 

n p —07-10 








146 


The Acting Chairman. The next change is on 163, “Repairs, 
Naval Academy,” and vou ask for an increased appropriation of 
$ 10 , 000 ? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir; that is simply because we did not have 
enough money to carry on the work. 

During the rebuilding period it has been the practice to make no 
repairs to the old buildings beyond that actually necessary to keep 
them in condition for use. Little or nothing has been necessary in 
the case of the new buildings, but the occupancy of these buildings 
causes a certain amount of wear which must be made good. Nothing- 
less than the amount asked will be sufficient for the purposes enumer¬ 
ated in the bill, and a failure to keep the buildings in thorough repair 
from insufficient funds available will result in deterioration that ulti¬ 
mately will cost more to make good. Congress allowed $20,000 for 
144 Repairs,” when the total value of the buildings was not more than 
$1,000,000—2 per cent of their value. The amount now asked is 
three-tenths of 1 per cent of their value, which appears to be sufficient 
reduction to compensate for the difference between old and new 
buildings, particularly when the fact is considered that the wear and 
tear is produced by a largely increased number of people. The ap¬ 
propriations made in the past are of little value for comparison, as 
the whole establishment is now on a much larger scale as to buildings, 
roads, walks, sewers, drains, water system, electric lighting, and 
steam heating plants; equipment of midshipmen’s quarters, including 
the kitchen, laundry, and refrigerating plants; equipment of build¬ 
ings used for instruction, such as the armory, and the buildings for 
the departments of seamanship, marine engineering, and physics and 
chemistry. The personnel has increased, the number of midshipmen 
under instruction between three and four times and the number of 
officers, instructors, and other employees in a less degree. This large 
increase in the quantity of property to be kept in repair necessarily 
requires an increased appropriation. 

The Acting Chairman. You think this increase of $10,000 is 
absolutely necessary? 

Admiral Sands. Yes, sir. We can not do the work. We submit¬ 
ted that estimate before and you cut it out. The appropriation 
under this head has been $31,000 since 1903, but it was reduced to 
$20,000 by you at the last session of Congress. It should be restored 
to $30,000. The regular appropriation for “ Repairs at the Military 
Academy ” is $40,000. 

The next item, 44 Heating and lighting, Naval Academy,” was 
missed at the hearing, and the following explanation is offered for 
insertion: 

An increase of $10,000 is asked, and it is further requested that 
the entire amount be made immediately available. The additional 
amount is necessary for the purchase of coal, and inasmuch as the 
coal purchased for this year will probably be insufficient the appro¬ 
priation should be made immediately available. 

It has been possible to meet the shortage in coal for the past two 
years from the accumulated surplus of previous years, but the supply 
of coal was exhausted in May, 1906, and it was necessary to burn 
wood, which had accumulated during the rebuilding. 'The coal 
purchased for the present fiscal year may not be sufficient to last 


147 

until July 1, 1907, and it is therefore advisable to make the appro¬ 
priation immediately available. 

The expenditures for the fiscal year 1906 were as follows: 

Fuel -$34,531.96 

Oil, grease, and waste_ 1, 045. 96 

Electric lamps, engine metal, carbons, brushes, packing, globes, 

wire, battery parts, lamp parts, stoker parts, line material, belt¬ 
ing, emery, expansion joints, and other materials_ 4,137. 67 

Apparatus and tools__ 266. 37 

Total- 39, 981. 96 

As a matter of comparison it should be noted that the appropria¬ 
tions for fuel, oil, and waste for various Government institutions is 
as follows: 

United States Capitol___$40,000 

Library of Congress_ 32, 500 

State, War, and Navy Building_ 43, 000 

United States Military Academy_ 54, 000 

The heating service of the Naval Academy covers a radius of 
2,000 feet, and the lighting service of 3,500 feet. 

The Acting Chairman. The next item is, “ Purchase of azimuth 
tables, $700.” 

Admiral Sands. That is for the instruction of the midshipmen. 
The Navy Department has no money to allot for these tables, and so 
we have to provide them ourselves. 

Mr. Dawson. What is an azimuth table ? 

Admiral Sands. It is for the instruction of the midshipmen in 
navigation. 

The Acting Chairman. Why do you put that in this way—why 
not just increase the amount? 

Admiral Sands. We have not got them now; we want the author¬ 
ity. They will be transferred from one class of midshipmen to an¬ 
other as long as they last. 

The Acting Chairman. The next change is on page 165: 

Stores, stationery, periodicals, materials, apparatus, machinery, tools, and 
fittings, for use in the department of marine engineering and naval construc¬ 
tion for purposes of instruction, repairs of apparatus, tools, and machinery, 
care and cleaning of building and equipment, and for all necessary purposes, 
fifteen thousand dollars. 

Professor Dodge. That should be considered along with the other 
two items. 

The three items in the appropriations for the current year, “ Stores, 
material, and apparatus,” have been brought under two items and 
the wording changed to conform to the necessary uses, with a reduc¬ 
tion of $2,500 in the amount involved. The appropriations hereto¬ 
fore made for the department of marine engineering were as fol¬ 
lows : 


Apparatus _$30, 000 

Material _ b 500 

Stores _ h 000 


Total _ 32,500 


In lieu of the above appropriations it is now requested that one 
appropriation only be made for the department of steam engineering, 
amounting to $15^000, and that an appropriation of $15,000 be made 
















148 


for the purpose of buying the necessary stores, material, and appara¬ 
tus for instruction purposes for the other departments, making a 
total appropriation of $30,000 instead of $32,500. The appropria¬ 
tions for the department of marine engineering will be utilized in 
the purchase of apparatus for the instruction of midshipmen, tools 
and machinery, and in the purchase of material, stores, etc., required 
for use in practical drills of the midshipmen in the various shops 
of this department; also for stores, material, etc., required to keep 
the equipment of the department up to date and in working order; 
also for the purchase of material for use in repairs of the steam ap¬ 
paratus of the steam cutters and ships attached to the Naval Acad¬ 
emy. 

The amount heretofore appropriated, $2,500, for the purchase of 
material and stores, has been entirely inadequate and it has been 
necessary to obtain donations from the Bureau of Steam Engineering 
in order to carry on the work. There is constantly required, both 
for repair work done by this department and for the use in the in¬ 
struction of midshipmen, a considerable quantity of such material as 
pig iron, brass, copper, pipe, tools for the use of the midshipmen in 
their practical drills, white pine for the use of the pattern shop, files 
for use on the bench work of the machine shop, molding sand, coke 
for the cupola, fuel oil for the brass foundry, lubricating oil for the 
machinery, and various other materials. 

There are no specific appropriations now made for the purchase of 
materials used in other departments for instruction purposes except 
the department of physics and chemistry. There should be an ap¬ 
propriation that will enable the purchase of the proper equipment 
for electrical engineering instruction, as well as for the purchase of 
supplies in small quantities for the various other departments. The 
change asked for under this appropriation will enable this to be done 
without an increase in expense. 

Mr. Butler. And the three items amounted to $32,500? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir. 

The Acting Chairman. Then there is an item for three laborers? 

Professor Dodge. That is a new item for the rifle range on the 
other side of the river. This estimate is based on the employment of 
three laborers to keep the rifle ranges on the north side of the Severn 
River (about 40 acres) in condition for use at all times. These 
ranges have been recently completed at a cost of $39,499.95. 

The Acting Chairman. That makes a saving there of practically 
only about $600? 

Professor Dodge. That has no connection with it. 

The Acting Chairman. Have you all these things now ? 

Professor Dodge. Those are the regular things bought out of the 
three appropriations. We had before three appropriations, and I 
have simply written out this item so that we can go on buying 
exactly what we have bought heretofore, and have reduced it prac¬ 
tically from $30,000 to $15,000. We have been equipping the depart¬ 
ment of steam engineering from the appropriation of $30,000 for 
u Apparatus,” and the work is nearly completed. The reduced 
amount now asked will be sufficient to pay operating expenses and 
keep the equipment up to date. 

The Acting Chairman. This $15,000 is for the purchase of appa¬ 
ratus for the other academic departments of the academy? 


149 


Professor Dodge. The item under consideration is for the depart¬ 
ment of steam engineering. The one following is for the other 
academic departments. 

The Acting Chairman. Why not strike out this language, strike 
it out and put all in one? 

Professor Dodge. I have enumerated some things that were not 
enumerated in the others, but which we have been purchasing. In 
changing an appropriation it is always necessary to exercise care in 
wording it. in order that it may be used as intended by Congress. If 
items purchased do not come specifically within the wording of an 
appropriation the auditor may disallow the vouchers drawn in pay¬ 
ment for these articles. 

If, however, you prefer to adhere to the old wording, I suggest the 
following as a substitute, which simply combines the three old appro¬ 
priations, with a decrease in the amount. Strike out the old appro¬ 
priations, “ Stores in the department of steam engineering,” “ Ma¬ 
terials for repairs in steam machinery,” and insert, below ** For con¬ 
tingencies for the Superintendent of the academy,” the following: 

* * * stores, materials for repairs in steam machinery, and appa¬ 

ratus for the instruction of midshipmen in the department of marine 

engineering and naval construction_$15, 000 

* * * apparatus for the instruction of midshipmen in the various 

academic departments__ 15, 000 

The Acting Chairman. Under “Public works ” there is an ap¬ 
propriation asked of $380,000 ? 

Professor Dodge. That is the balance of the authorized amount. 

The Acting Chairman. Will you need it? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir. This carries us to June 30, 1908. 

The Acting Chairman. You will need it? 

Professor Dodge. Yes, sir. 

Thereupon the committee adjourned. 
































































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No. 7 . 


BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS -STATEMENT OF REAR-ADMIRAL 
MORDECAI T. ENDICOTT, CHIEF OF BUREAU. 

CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT. 

Thursday, December 13, 1906. 

The Chairman. The first is general maintenance of yards and docks, 
and the language is the same as last year. 

Admiral Endicott. I believe so. 

The Chairman. Last year the appropriation was 1850,000, and this 
year you are asking for $1,000,000. 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. There is no deficiency this year, I take it. 

Admiral Endicott. There will be; I was going to ask Congress for 
about $50,000. It is very hard to get along without it. I did not 
bring the items here, because I did not know that you would go into 
that. 

The Chairman. Please put that in. One of the largest items is that 
growing out of the consolidation of power plants. The running of 
these last year, for fuel, attendance, etc., cost $355,338.27, and the cost 
this year will be considerably more. Water cost last year $91,109.91. 
Pay of men on leave cost $58,181.87. 

The Chairman. The consolidation of the power plants is a measure 
of economy. 

Admiral Endicott. Yes; it costs less money, but we have to provide 
all the coal used in generating power for all the Bureaus, which we 
did not have to do before and which in itself is a very large item. The 
expenses of other Bureaus for fuel are reduced accordingly. 

The Chairman. That is an increase of $150,000. 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, and 1 think it is very necessary. 

The Chairman. Can you not get along with less? 

Admiral Endicott. 1 don’t think we could. You know that last 
year we had to almost close up the yards for several months in order 
to keep within the appropriation. 

The Chairman. How about this contingent expense of $30,000? 

Admiral Endicott. That is the same as last year, and I do not think 
it ought to be reduced. I do not always use it up, however. 

The Chairman. Will 3 r ou furnish a statement showing how that has 
been expended? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes. Sometimes it is not sufficient, which is 
the case this year, owing to the large expenses necessary at the Pensa¬ 
cola Navy-Yard, resulting from a destructive hurricane. 

The Chairman. Now we will turn to the civil establishment. At 
Portsmouth, N. H., you ask for one bookkeeper at $1,200. Is he 
employed at present? 


152 


Admiral Endicott. There is a man who has to do that service, and 
he is paid out of an appropriation for other work. He ought to be 
on the civil establishment. 

The Chairman. He would like to get there? 

Admiral Endicott. They prefer that; it is a more proper place and 
a more proper charge. 

The Chairman. Navy-yard, Boston, one electrician, for whom you 
recommend an increase of $200. 

Admiral Endicott. There is also one at Portsmouth. You will 
find it running through all of the yards, and it is for the reason that 
the electricians are not getting adequate pay. Fourteen hundred 
dollars a year is less than $5 a day, and this is not a machanic or a 
machinist, but a trained, educated electrical engineer in charge of 
these central power plants. He is not getting anything more than 
the pay of a first-class mechanic. We have lost some, and some others 
are very much dissatisfied with the pay, so that we are continually 
appealed to for an increase. I laid the matter before the Secretary 
this year, and he agreed to approve a maximum of $1,600, which is 
about $5 a day. The present pay is entirely inadequate for the class 
of service, and I think this ought to be allowed. 

The Chairman. Do you recommend it all through the j r ards? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. I should think some yards would be more impor¬ 
tant than others. 

Admiral Endicott. Well, I have not recommended it in every 
yard, because in some places we do not employ a professional electri¬ 
cian, do not need one. But at all of the principal yards these plants 
are large and important, with fine machinery, and are very valuable. 
As you are aware, we are doing away entirely with separate power 
plants at some of the yards, and concentrating all under one plant in 
yards and docks. 

The Chairman. Is this consolidation fully established at any one 
yard % 

Admiral Endicott. At Portsmouth, N. H., we are doing it. At New 
York we have taken over a large portion of the load from other depart¬ 
ments, but not all of it. At League Island we are handling it all. 

Mr. Kitchin. What are the duties of the ship keeper at Sacket 
Harbor, N. YJ 

Admiral Endicott. He has charge of the naval station. You know 
we have a little naval station up there, and he is a care taker. He 
was called ship keeper, because at the time his employment was 
authorized there was a ship on the stocks there, but that has been 
demolished, and there is no ship there now. But there is a property 
of several acres, some buildings, and materials that belong to the Bureau 
of Ordnance, a few guns and gun carriages. That is the entire cost 
of taking care of the place, excepting that 1 give them a few hundred 
dollars during the 3 7 ear for the repairs of the buildings and fences. 

The Chairman. How about this messenger for the civil engineer’s 
office at League Island at $2 per day. Have you a messenger there now ? 

Admiral Endicott. Not a messenger. The services are performed 
by a laborer. 

The Chairman. At the Washington Navy-Yard you want one sten¬ 
ographer and clerk at $3.04 per diem. 


153 


Admiral Endicott. In the organization there they have no stenog¬ 
rapher except as they employ one from time to time out of some other 
appropriation. They have a very small force. 

Mr. Kitchin. Wouldn t it be better to put that man on the annual 
salary list instead of on a per diem? 1 notice that the} 7 have men on 
the per diem list, and every year they put a few of them on the reg¬ 
ular list. If you know that you are going to need him all the year, 
it seems to me it would be better to put him on the salary list and be 
done with it. 

Admiral Endicott. It suits us just as well; in fact, a little better. 
But generally Congress has manifested a preference to have per diem 
employees. His leave is about the same whether he is a per diem or 
an annual employee. 

The Chairman. At the Norfolk yard you ask for one requisition 
and time clerk, civil engineer’s office, $i,017.25. Have they a man 
doing that work there now? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; there is a man doing the work, but 
there is no man of that rating on that force. 

The Chairman. At New Orleans Naval Station, one electrician at 
$1,600. Have you an electrician there now? 

Admiral Endicott. We now have a mechanic. 

The Chairman. Is he doing the work? 

Admiral Endicott. At present; but the} 7 are building up a power 
plant there, and this was with a view of having a professional elec¬ 
trical engineer there. 

The Chairman. One writer and requisition clerk, $950. You have 
one now, have you not? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, we have out of another appropriation. 

The Chairman. We will now go to the Mare Island Navy-Yard. 

Admiral Endicott. There is a change in the electrician there. He 
is now a laborer taken out of the gang. 

The Chairman. At Cavite there is one clerk increased $200. 

Admiral Endicott. He is an American. The clerk in the office of 
the yards and docks is the chief clerk, and we pay them all the same 
amount, $1,400, or endeavor to. He has been receiving $1,200. That 
is the cause of the increase there. 

The Chairman. Now, as to the navy-yard at Charleston, S. C., 
commandant’s office? 

Admiral Endicott. We have no civil establishment there; we have 
never appropriated for it yet. We have to get the work done and 
pay for it out of appropriations for public improvements. The ste¬ 
nographer, writer, mail messenger, and janitor are employees that 
will be necessary there right along every year, so I think they ought 
to be on the civil establishment. 

The Chairman. Why do you call them “commandant’s office?” 

Admiral Endicott. That is put in there, but you can leave out 
those two words if you wish, although they show to you what we want 
them for. 1 furnish clerical assistance for the commandant’s office, 
the civil engineer’s office, and the office of the captain of the yard. 

The Chairman. Now as to the civil engineer’s office? 

Admiral Endicott. That is at Charleston. Those are necessary 
employees. 

The Chairman. Is that why you make a distinction? 


154 


Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. Under this you know where the money 
is going, but sometimes the commandant raids the other offices and 
takes them out. 

The Chairman. Those will be necessary right along? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next is naval station at Guantanamo, Cuba. 
We haven’t much down there yet? 

Admiral Endicott. No, we haven’t much, and we have no civil 
establishment; but those employees are necessary, and for that reason 
I add them to this list. 

The Chairman. What have you done down there, anything at all? 

Admiral Endicott. They have commenced the dry dock, have used 
up the money, and stopped. We are doing something in the way of 
water supply, building a quay wall, and doing some dredging on 
funds already appropriated, but that work will have to stop, because 
of exhaustion of funds, probably in a month or two. 

The Chairman. Are any buildings up? 

Admiral Endicott. No; only a few temporary buildings. You 
have not 3 7 et appropriated for any large buildings, and we are closing 
work up there until you appropriate more money. 

The Chairman. The next is the naval station, Olongapo, P. 1. 

Admiral Endicott. There is no civil establishment there, but we 
are doing a great deal of work, and that force is necessary if the sta¬ 
tion is maintained. You have appropriated for public works from 
time to time, and made a small appropriation last year. You will 
notice that that is not a large amount. Excepting for the chief clerk, 
draftsman, and one foreman, the others are native employees, to whom 
we pay small salaries. 

The Chairman. You are employing man there now? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes; we are doing a good deal of work there. 
We are putting up a coaling plant, to cost half a million dollars. 

The Chairman. At Tutuila you ask for one clerk, at $1,000. 

Admiral Endicott. We have to pay him out of my maintenance 
fund. We will always have a clerk there, and for that reason 1 
suggest putting him on the civil establishment. 


Saturday, December 15, 1906. 

The committee this day met, Hon. George E. Foss in the chair. 

PUBLIC WORKS. 

STATEMENT OF REAR-ADMIRAL M. E. ENDICOTT, CHIEF BUREAU 
OF YARDS AND DOCKS—Continued. 

The Chairman. The first item is navv-vard, Portsmouth, N. H., 
and the estimates submitted amount to $1437,900. You are asking 
for an appropriation for railroad and rolling stock every year. Can 
not that item be left out? 

Admiral Endicott. It can be reduced to $2,000. 

The Chairman. The next item is sewer system extension, $5,000? 
Admiral Endicott. That can be reduced to $2,000. 

The Chairman. The next item is quay wall, to extend, $50,000? 



155 


Admiral Endicott. We ought to have that appropriation; it is 
important work. I think you can make it $25,000. It is very import¬ 
ant that the quay wall there should be extended. 

The Chairman. Are you using all of it all the time? 

Admiral Endicott. All that borders deep water. Some portions 
the ships can not get to because it was built many years ago in shallow 
water. 

The Chairman. It is a matter that you can build fast or slow? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. Suppose you make it $20,000. 

The Chairman. The next item is grading, to continue, $30,000? 

Admiral Endicott. That item can be made $15,000. 

The Chairman. Will we have to provide appropriations for grading 
there every year? 

Admiral Endicott. You will for a few years. The surface is above 
the grade, and it is rock material. It is rather expensive to do the 
work. We are now grading in the vicinity of the new dry dock and 
the buildings for steam engineering. 

The Chairman. It seems to me that you ought to do a great deal of 
grading for $10,000. 

Admiral Endicott, It is rock, and requires blasting. It is a good 
deal above the grade, and is expensive. 

The Chairman. You think that $15,000 should be appropriated? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is central power-plant extension, 
$60,000? 

Admiral Endicott. We need all of that amount. 

The Chairman. Will that complete it? 

Admiral Endicott. For the present; yes, sir. For a few years that 
will furnish all the power necessary. 

Mr. Kitchin. That item had better be made to read 44 to complete ?” 

Admiral Endicott. You can call it 44 to complete.” 

The Chairman. The next item is pattern shop for steam engineer¬ 
ing, to complete, $61,200. Did we not make an appropriation for that 
last year? 

Admiral Endicott. You allowed about $39,000, and you said 
4 4 towards ” it. 

The Chairman. Was that last year? 

Admiral Endicott. The year before. But you did not limit the 
cost in any way. You said 44 towards,” but you did not say what the 
ultimate cost should be. 

The Chairman. Have you done anything? 

Admiral Endicott. Nothing but make the plans. It is a building 
that is going to cost about $100,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. How much was appropriated two years ago ? 

Admiral Endicott. I think $39,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. Nothing done yet but the plans? 

Admiral Endicott. That is all. We found that we could not put 
up anything on the scale desired for $39,000 that would be useful, and 
therefore it was thought best to wait. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is the $39,000 still at your disposal? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. That does not lapse into the Treasury 
at the end of the fiscal year. If the money is appropriated for a public 
improvement it holds. 


156 


The Chairman. If you do not get this appropriation this year you 
will not go ahead? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir. 

The Chairman. Are not the shops sufficient for steam engineering? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; they are not. It was $40,000 that you 
appropriated for the pattern shop. Steam engineering is very badly 
off, and they have been coming to us with estimates for several years 
for that plant. You have authorized two or three of the buildings. 

The Chairman. The next item is “Blasting in front of quay wall,” 
$50,000. 

Admiral Endicott. That is very important in order to get a proper 
depth for handling the heavy-draft vessels in front of the new dry 
dock. 

The Chairman. What is the depth? I thought we had sufficient 
depth. 

Admiral Endicott. We have in the harbor, but not right in front 
of the dry dock. It is one of the deepest harbors on the coast. 

The Chairman. I thought that was one of the great arguments 
always used—that you had plenty of water and did not have to 
dredge. 

Admiral Endicott. Depth once made is practically permanent, 
because there is not an} 7 silt; but this is the original rock. 

The Chairman. Right in front of the dry dock? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; to one side. 

The Chairman. Have you used the dry dock? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Can you get a big battle ship in? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. It lies right in front of the quay wall. 
You can not lay a vessel up there if she draws 26 or 27 feet, because 
there is danger of grounding and injuring her. 

The Chairman. If she draws less you can? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. There are other places along the quay wall where 
you can put the vessels? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. There is plenty of space? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir. This is right on the quay wall adjoin¬ 
ing the dry dock, where you want to moor a vessel before taking it 
into the dry dock. I think it is more important than a great many of 
these other things. 

The Chairman. More important than the new buildings? 

Admiral Endicott. It is more important than most of them. When 
you come to the foundry for steam engineering, that is very important. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ Track for forty-ton crane, exten¬ 
sion, forty-six thousand eight hundred dollars.” 

Admiral Endicott. The track extends now only around the dry 
dock, and we want to extend it along the quay wall. 

The Chairman. Is it necessary this year? 

Admiral Endicott. It is important/not absolutely necessary. 

The Chairman. Then we can leave it out this year? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

I he Chairman. The next item is “Foundry (to cost two hundred 
and twenty-four thousand three hundred dollars), one hundred thou¬ 
sand dollars.” 


157 


Admiral Endicott. Steam engineering has no foundry there. The 
old foundry was condemned and demolished. It was an old wooden 
affair, a fire trap. They have absolutely no foundiy to-da}^. I think 
that is the most important of the buildings which steam engineering 
asks for. 

The Chairman. Has any other department a foundry? 

Admiral Endicott. Construction and repair has a foundry. 

The Chairman. If we should have a consolidation of shops for all 
the departments there would be no need for more than one foundry 
in the yard ? 

Admiral Endicott. Then there would be but one. Whenever you 
get to that it lops off. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “ Copper and blacksmith shop 
for steam engineering (to cost one hundred and twenty thousand dol¬ 
lars) sixty thousand dollars.” Do you regard that as absolutely essen¬ 
tial during this coming year? 

Admiral Endicott. I do not think it is absolutely essential at the 
present time. They have a small space in a shop for that purpose 
now, but it is inadequate and a poor one. It is not what it should be 
by any means. • 

The Chairman. The next item is, u Erecting shop for steam engi¬ 
neering, eighty-five thousand two hundred dollars.” 

Admiral Endicott. That is for steam engineering. I think four are 
asked for especially bv the chief of engineers and have been approved 
by Mr. Bonaparte. 1 think that is one of the least important shops 
for steam engineering. 

The Chairman. You regard the foundry as the most important of 
any, if we keep up the present system? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; if 3^011 do not consolidate. 

The Chairman. Do } t ou think it would be advisable to consolidate 
the shops ? 

Admiral Endicott. I think it ought to be brought about within 
certain limits. I think there are some things which could not be very 
well consolidated, but many could be consolidated so that the work of 
all the bureaus of that particular class could be consolidated in one 
building. 

The Chairman. Take the matter of the foundry, do 3 t ou regard that 
as a matter that each bureau should have its own foundry? 

Admiral Endicott. No; 1 think one foundr\ T could do the work for 
all the bureaus. 

The Chairman. What other line is there where they could have one 
common shop? 

Admiral Endicott. One blacksmith shop could manage the work of 
all the bureaus. 

The Chairman. And one paint shop? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. What else? 

Admiral Endicott. A copper shop. 

Mr. Kitchin. I believe they have practically consolidated the power 
plants? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. They are being consolidated now. 
Some have been consolidated. I think one pattern shop would be 
sufficient for all the different departments. 


158 


The Chairman. The next item is, “Chapel and recreation hall, fifty 
thousand dollars.” 

Admiral Endicott. There is nothing of that kind in the yard and 
there are a great many men there. You know we are building a naval 
prison, and we have a prison ship, and we have a large force of ma¬ 
rines. There is no recreation hall and no chapel. One has been rec¬ 
ommended for two or three years in succession, and approved by the 
Secretary, but you have not authorized it. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is it the purpose of this appropriation to have only 
one hall or building? 

Admiral Endicott. One building, but it will be divided for recrea¬ 
tion and for religious services. It is not proposed that one room shall 
answer for both purposes. 

Mr. Kitchin. Will the recreation hall be fixed up with gymnastic 
appliances ? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; and a reading room, in order to give 
the sailors and others something to interest them in the yard, rather 
than to go across town and lie around the grogshops. 

The Chairman. Instead of taking up each item I wish you would 
just indicate to us those which you think are the most important, and 
then we will take them up. 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. I think the naval prison administra¬ 
tion building, to complete, $10,000, is one of the most important. 

The Chairman. What else? 

Admiral Endicott. Then the additional cells, elevator, and fittings 
for the naval prison, $75,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. How many cells are expected to be provided under 
this item ? 

Admiral Endicott. With these additional cells which can be put up 
with $75,000, I think it makes 320. 

Mr. Kitchin. Do you know how many we have there now? 

Admiral Endicott. 1 think we have about 160. 

Mr. Kitchin. These cells cost about $1,000 apiece? 

Admiral Endicott. That includes the heating and lighting and the 
plumbing. Every one has a water-closet and locking device and ven¬ 
tilation, and all that sort of thing. Then there are some elevators in 
connection with it also. 

The Chairman. What other items do you think are important? 

Admiral Endicott. I think the $15,000 for the coaling plant is an 
important item. That plant was very badly injured by fire, and it is 
necessary to make some repairs to it. I think provision ought to be 
made for the purchase of a water supply. The supply in the yard is 
inadequate. We have been experimenting in the way of sinking wells 
to see if we could get a supply and have failed. We depend on cis¬ 
terns and wells, and we have had to connect with a system outside and 
buy water. It is costing us, I think, in the neighborhood of twelve 
to thirteen thousand dollars per year to purchase water, and the whole 
plant can be bought for $170,000. 

The Chairman. That is from an estate? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; it belongs to the Frank Jones estate. 
I understand now the price they will take is $170,000. 

The Chairman. They may take less if we wait a little longer. 

Admiral Endicott. I do not know. I understand there are other 
people looking at it, but they prefer to sell to the Government. 


159 


The Chairman. Are those all the important items for this year? 

Admiral Endicott. Those are the most important. There are 
several estimates for buildings in connection with the naval prison, 
the administration of which comes under the Judge Advocate, and for 
which he is extremely anxious, and which Mr. Bonaparte has approved. 
It includes a barracks for marines to cost $105,000, quarters for offi¬ 
cers and naval prison furniture and fittings, $8,500, a cooking plant 
and baking plant. Those things should be provided to make that 
plant complete. Mr. Bonaparte thought them of great importance. 

Mr. Kitchin. What is the necessity for the naval prison barracks? 

Admiral Endicott. It is for barracks for marines who will be sta¬ 
tioned there as guards. 

Mr. Kitchin. What accommodations have they for those marines 
now ? 

Admiral Endicott. We have accommodations inside the present 
building for a small squad, just sufficient for a guard. 

The Chairman. They want a big barracks right next to the prison ? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is the navy yard, Boston, Mass., and 
this year you are asking for $525,000. Last year it was a good deal 
less. Now, please point out briefly what you regard as the most 
important and necessaiy items for the coming year? 

Admiral Endicott. 1 think the first item on the list, paving, is an 
important item. If you can not spare $20,000 give us $10,000. 1 have 

explained several times that that yard was in a wretched condition, 
practically nothing but a few cobblestone pavements a few years ago. 
There should be a water-closet between the two dry docks. We have 
completed a new dry dock, and when the two docks are occupied there 
may be a thousand men on those ships. 

The Chairman. Does it cost $15,000? 

Admiral Endicott. To provide for a thousand men requires large 
accommodations. 

The Chairman. The next item is “Shears on pier numbered six, 
forty-three thousand dollars.” Can that go over this present year? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. What else? 

Admiral Endicott. You mean the items we consider the most 
important? 

The Chairman. Yes, sir. 

Admiral Endicott. The “third floor, building No. 107, $6,000,” is 
for putting a third floor in the yard and docks shop, which I think 
important. I think the electrical plant extension of $25,000 is impor¬ 
tant, and the heating plant extensions. The electrical plant is for wir¬ 
ing buildings, connecting up the new power house, etc., and the 
heating plant is to connect nine different buildings which are now 
heated by different plants. I think it is economy to connect these 
buildings with the central heating plant. We need some railroad roll¬ 
ing stock, $3,000; telephone system extension, $1,000; and the rail¬ 
road system extension, $2,000. 

1 think the repairs to dry dock No. 1, to cost $15,000, ought to be 
allowed at this time. That has been asked for repeatedly. The dock 
has been in a leaking condition for a great many years. It is the old 
stone dock, now about 70 years old. It is getting a little worse all the 
time. If the masonry at the entrance is not taken up and relaid there 


160 


may be some accident sometime. The item to complete building 1 No. 
108, $5,000—that is, the new power house—I think that that is neces¬ 
sary; also putting concrete floors in the dynamo room and boiler room 
and making a few other improvements, and the salt-water system for 
flushing dry dock No. 2, $2,500, ought to be installed. I think the 
extension to the coal plant, to cost $7,000, ought to be included. It is 
for the purpose of providing apparatus for hoisting, which will enable 
us to coal vessels much more rapidly. 

Mr. Roberts. What is building No. 42? 

Admiral Endicott. That is the steam engineering building. 

Mr. Roberts. What are those improvements? 

Admiral Endicott. You mean to cost $9,000? 

Mr. Roberts. Yes, sir. 

Admiral Endicott. It is for an elevator and for extending the light¬ 
ing and heating system into the coppersmith-shop portion. That is 
very desirable. I passed it over for a moment in running down the 
list. 

Mr. Roberts. What is building No. 68? 

Admiral Endicott. That is supplies and accounts timber shed. I 
think the ropewalk, $10,000, is very important. That yard is pressed 
very much in the manufacture of rope. 

Mr. Kitchin. Why do they call it a ropewalk? 

Admiral Endicott. That was the original name when they had 
those long buildings in the shape of long halls. 

Mr. Roberts. It is what they always call a building where they 
made rope. 

The Chairman. What other items do you consider as important? 

Admiral Endicott. I think the improvements to the naval prison 
are important, $2,500. I also think the starting of the new dry dock 
is important. 

The Chairman. How many docks have you there now? 

Admiral Endicott. Two. There is a fine site for another dock. 

Mr. Roberts. One is a little dock? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; 70 }^ears old, and one has recently 
been completed. This would be a shorter dock than the one recently 
built, which is 750 feet long, and it would increase the docking facili¬ 
ties on the Atlantic coast very much. The same plant which furnishes 
the power for operating the other docks would be used for this one. 

The Chairman. How many docks are you asking for this year at all 
the yards ? 

Admiral Endicott. I asked for four or five, but I think the Secre¬ 
tary cut my estimate down, one for Boston, two for Norfolk, and one 
floating dry dock. 

Mr. Kitchin. What has become of the Pensacola dock? Last } T ear 
there was a great deal of testimony as to the importance of that dock. 

Admiral Endicott. That is not in the bill this year. The Secretary 
cut it out. I asked for it, but he cut it out. We lost one dry dock 
down there in the hurricane. That was a small wooden onewhich 
only cost about $100,000. It was so badly demolished that we did not 
think it was worth while to repair it. 

The Chairman. I wish you would put in a statement of the number 
of dry docks in use and how much they have been used this year. 

Mr. Kitchin. I hope you will also inform us in that statement as 
to how many docks you now have and where they are located, how 




161 


many are completed, and how many have been authorized but not 
completed. 

Admiral Endicott. I will send you a little table. There are fifteen 
now in use and seven in different stages of completion. 

United States dry docks. 


Location. 

Type. 

Com¬ 

pleted. 

Remarks. 

Portsmouth, N. H. 

Floating.. 
Graving.. 

1851 

Unserviceable. 

Do. 

1906 

1833 

1906 

1851 

1890 

1897 

Boston, Mass. 


Do. 



New York, N. Y. 



Do. 



Do. 

do 


Do. 

do 

Under construction. 

League Island, Pa. 


1891 

Do. 


Do. 

Norfolk, Va. 


1834 

1889 

Do. 



Do. 



Do. 

Do. 

Unserviceable. 

Charleston, S. C. 

do 


Pensacola, Fla. 

Floating.. 

a 1898 

Do. 

a 1898 

New Orleans, La. 

.. .do 

1902 


Mare Island, Cal. 

Graving .. 

. _. do 

1891 


Do... 

Under construction. 

Puget Sound, Wash. 

.do 

1892 

Do. 


Do. 

Pollock, P. I. 


61898 

Olongapo, P. I. 

Floating.. 

Graving 

1905 


Guantanamo, Cuba. 

Do. 





a Date of purchase, b Acquired. 


We have asked for a thousand dollars for transferring the pillar 
crane to the timber basin. The crane which we have in another part 
of the } T ard is not very much needed there but is very much needed 
at the timber basin and it will cost a thousand dollars to transfer it. 

I think the rebuilding and enlargingof boiler-shop portion of build¬ 
ing No. 42 is very important. We have not room to do the boiler 
work that is required in that yard. 

The Chairman. That is practically a new building? 

Admiral Endicott. It practically extends one wing of the building. 

The Chairman. How many different bureaus have boiler shops? 

Admiral Endicott. This is the only one in the }^ard. 

The Chairman. Is that something that could be consolidated? 

Admiral Endicott. It is the only one in the yard of any account. 
That is, steam engineering. 

The Chairman. They can get along another year without a new 
shop? 

Admiral Endicott. I suppose they could. Steam Engineer Rae 
dwells on its importance very much. 

Mr. Roberts. Do you know whether or not they have authorized 
the building of boilers for one of the ships—the New York —in that 
yard ? 

Admiral Endicott. I do not know. They complain that they can 
not handle the work of that class at that yard. They may be building 
boilers for vessels on the foreign stations. If a vessel is coming from 
a foreign station for new boilers, they issue an order to some navy- 
yard to get the boilers ready. Boston is not now fitted to handle work 
of that kind to any extent. 


n p— 07-11 









































Mr. Roberts. About the naval prison at Portsmouth; perhaps you 
have gone all over that. How is that getting along, and when are they 
going to get into it? 

Admiral Endicott. It is practically completed so far as the present 
contracts go; that is, it will be completed the early part of January. 
The contractor was in my office this morning and so stated. 

Mr. Roberts. And it will be ready to take in prisoners? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; as soon as he gets out. The building' 
was designed to be self-contained. There were to be quarters for a 
small guard and for the servants, with apartments in the basement for 
the cooking and the storing of provisions, etc., but the} T are asking 
for separate buildings outside; that is, the judge-advocate is asking 
for it. 

Mr. Roberts. I am more particularly interested in the prison itself, 
because we want to get the prison out of the Boston yard as soon as 
possible, as they are occupying space that is badly needed by supplies. 

Mr. Loud. How many foundries are there in the Boston yards 

Admiral Endicott. There are two: Steam engineering and construc¬ 
tion and repair. 

Mr. Loud. Is that all? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; I do not think equipment has a foun¬ 
dry. 

Mr. Loud. What is the reason those should not be consolidated? 

Admiral Endicott. I think the foundries could be consolidated at 
an}^ yard. I do not see why one department could not do the casting 
for all the departments. 

Mr. Loud. Is there any logical reason wh}^ they should be separate ? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir. 

Mr. Loud. Is it more expensive to run them as separate establish¬ 
ments? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; I think it is. I stated a moment ago 
that there used to be a foundry in the Bureau of Yards and Docks at 
some of the yards, but we have abandoned ours. 

The Chairman. Which department has the more use for a foundry, 
construction and repair or steam engineering? 

Admiral Endicott. I think steam engineering. 

The Chairman. The next item is, Navy-yard, New York, N. Y. 
Please point out the more important items. 

Admiral Endicott. I think the electric plant extensions, the heating 
system extensions, and the underground conduit extensions are all 
important. They are all associated in this matter of the distribution 
of power to other bureaus. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is this amount of money necessarv for each one of 
them? 

Admiral Endicott. 1 think it is. There has been approved only 
about half of what they asked at the yard. The underground con¬ 
duit could be reduced to $15,000.. 

Mr. Kitchin. It is $15,000 in the bill. 

Admiral Endicott. The Secretary must have cut it down. I have 
no note in regard to it. 

The Chairman. What other items are there? 

Admiral Endicott. I think the $7,000 for the electric motors for 
pump well valves is important. It is to operate them by electricity. 


163 


I think the item for electric elevators, $10,000, is important. The 
elevators are in the supplies and accounts storehouse, and it is for the 
puipose of changing' them into electric elevators. They are now 
operated steam. There is a little boiler plant that is run exclu¬ 
sively for operating the elevators, and we want to get that out of use, 
and if we can turn the steam elevators into electric elevators we can 
get rid of it. The $140,000 for the central power plant is important. 

The Chairman. Have you spent anything on the central power plant? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; we have spent about $150,000. 

The Chairman. How much more have you got to spend? 

Admiral Endicott. This will equip it fora few years. We are still 
within the estimate made by the Boston experts who went over the 
yard. 

The Chairman. Do you find that it is going to work an economy? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; in labor and attendants and in the 
consumption of fuel. The additional story to building numbered 31, 
that is the clothing factory—they do an immense amount of work in 
that line and they want to put another story on one of those buildings. 
I think that is the most important. 

The Chairman. Is that a very large building? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. They handle practically all that work 
for the entire Navy at that yard. 

The Chairman. The next item is navy-yard, League Island, Pa. 
Please point out the important items. 

Admiral Endicott. I think the storehouse for ordnance for storage 
of ordnance stores is very important, $46,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is this at League Island? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Have they not a storehouse there now? 

Admiral Endicott. They have a shop which they use for storage to 
some extent. 

The Chairman. It seems to me I saw several little storehouses for 
ordnance down below. What other items? 

Admiral Endicott. Thirty-one thousand dollars for a storehouse for 
lumber is important. We have been asking for that several years. 

The Chairman. Have you not any place to store it now? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; it is stored out in the open. 

The Chairman. Is that for your Bureau ? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; it is for supplies and accounts. 

Mr. Lilley. What do you do with lumber there? 

Admiral Endicott. Store it out in the open. 

Mr. Lilley. No; I mean what uses do you have for lumber; there 
has never been a ship repaired or built there? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; vessels come there for repair. 

The Chairman. Please indicate what other items you think are 
important. 

Admiral Endicott. To continue retaining wall about reserve basin, 
$50,000; I think that is important. That is a portion of the fresh¬ 
water basin. 

Mr. Kitchin. Y r ou ask for $50,000? 

Admiral Endicott. Y r es, sir; they asked for $150,000 at the yard. 

The Chairman. How much is it going to cost to finish it? 


164 


Admiral Endicott. Considerable money. It is to be a very large 
basin. It will cost about $2,000,000 to complete. 

The Chairman. Do you use it a great deal? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Do many ships go there? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. It is the principal place where ves¬ 
sels are stored in ordinary. Then the “sea wall extension ” is impor¬ 
tant. That is to extend along the front, west of the new dry dock. 
And also the item for “berths for receiving ships, $25,500.” There 
are two receiving ships there now, and they occupy space right in the 
working front of the 3 T ard. We should also have something for 
grading and paving. You might make it something smaller—$15,000. 
I think the electric elevators should be appropriated for. They are for 
the general storehouse for supplies and accounts and the yards and 
docks shop. There is an item of $100,000 for a hydraulic dredge. 
Before that water front is completed, and this fresh-water basin is 
completed, there will be about 4,000,000 cubic yards of material to be 
excavated. It is costing us too much. There is an agreement or com¬ 
bination or an association among the dredge contractors, and we are 
paying about 22 cents a yard for that material. I think that is fully 
50 per cent too much, and sometimes I think it could be done for less 
than half. 

Mr. Roberts. How do the}' dispose of the material they take out? 

Admiral Endicott. At present they are using it for filling in. 

Mr. Roberts. How is it handled? 

Admiral Endicott. By the hydraulic system. 

Mr. Roberts. Do they run it off in pipes? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. That is one of the cheapest ways of 
handling material. I have rejected bids and invited them again, but I 
can not get the price down to a reasonable amount. 

Mr. Roberts. How much has already been spent for dredging? 

Admiral Endicott. I gave you a statement two years ago. I do not 
know just what it is now. A great deal has been spent there. 

Mr. Roberts. What proportion of the whole dredging has been 
done? 

Admiral Endicott. I suppose two-thirds of the whole. 

Mr. Roberts. About 8,000,000 yards? 

Admiral Endicott. I think there has been that much. 

Mr. Roberts. And about 4,000,000 yards more? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. A great deal of the filling was done 
by the War Department. All the material removed from the upper 
Delaware when they removed Smith Island came down and was used 
for filling in. 

Mr. Roberts. You think it would be economy to buy a dredge? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Lilley. We have paid the contractors for doing two-thirds of 
the work and now we buy a dredge? 

Admiral Endicott. Some of this work was done for 11 cents a yard. 
That was the softer portion of it; but for three years they have put up 
the price. The War Department has had to do the same thing. They 
have had to buy dredges and operate them themselves, because of the 
high prices bid by contractors at some points. 

Mr. Loud. If they thought the Government was going to build a 


165 


dredge, and that they could not get over 11 cents, do you not suppose 
that they would come to time? 

Admiral Endicott. This we are now contracting for at 22 cents 
could not be done for 11 cents, because it is hard material; but I do 
not think it should be over 16 or IT cents. 

Mr. Lilley. Would there be any use for the dredge after you got 
this job done? 

Admiral Endicott. Dredging from time to time is necessary at all 
of the navy-yards. 

Mr. Lilley. Can you move it around? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; it can be towed anywhere. 

Mr. Lilley. We do not own a dredge anywhere? 

Admiral Endicott. We have a little one at Pensacola. It belongs 
to the War Department and we borrowed it. 

Mr. Loud. What became of the dredge at Charleston? 

Admiral Endicott. That belongs to the War Department. 

Mr. Loud. Where is that? 

Admiral Endicott. It is there. They expect to continue to dredge 
in Charleston Harbor and the dredge is stationed there permanently. 
The city of Philadelphia has had the same trouble with the contractors 
and during the last fall they have rejected bids. The contractors 
practically control the price. They divide up the area along the coast 
among themselves. 

Mr. Kitchin. Please give us an estimate of the total cost of the 
retaining wall and the sea wall when completed. 

Admiral Endicott. Around the reserve basin ? 

Mr. Kitchin. Yes, sir. 

Admiral Endicott. The cost of the wall will be about $640,000. 
The piers will cost about $300,000. There is an estimate for the 
extension of the reserve basin to continue dredging in case you do 
not authorize the purchase of the dredge. 

Mr. Lilley. Have you immediate use for this basin ? 

Admiral Endicott. It is being used now. 

Mr. Lilley. Could you not use the one at Portsmouth or some 
other place ? 

Admiral Endicott. There is no fresh-water basin in an} r other navy- 
yard. 

Mr. Lilley. None at Portsmouth? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; all salt water. 

Mr. Lilley. I thought it was right on the river? 

Admiral Endicott. It is; but it is right near the coast, and the 
water is salt. Then, we want $100,000 for the power plant. 

The Chairman. Have you expended any of the appropriation here¬ 
tofore made for that purpose? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; but that much is needed. Another 
important item is for the extension of piers on the water front— 
$120,000—adjacent to the new dry dock. That is an important item. 

Mr. Kitchin. Please embody in your statement the total cost of 
these various navy-yards or the total amount expended on them up to 
the present time. 

Admiral Endicott. The cost to date? 

Mr. Kitchin. Yes, sir; of the various navy-yards. 

Mr. Roberts. Did we not have that last year ? 


166 


Admiral Endicott. I publish in my annual report every year the 
appraised value of the navy-yards, but that does not represent the 
original cost. 

Mr. Lilley. Is that the original cost, minus a certain amount 
charged for depreciation? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. If a building is twenty-five or thirty 
years old we put a low estimate on its value. That figures up to about 
$82,000,000 or $88,000,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. Probably that would be a satisfactory answer to my 
question. 

Admiral Endicott. My report for this year will contain that data 
brought up to date, that is a little more, but I do not think it exceeds 
$85,000,000. 

Mr. Loud. I would very much like to know what has gone into the 
Boston yard since it went into commission ? 

Admiral Endicott. How much has gone in since it was opened? 

Mr. Loud. Yes, sir. 

Admiral Endicott. We can tell that readily. It is $12,455,069.72. 

The Chairman. The next item is navy-yard, Washington, D. C. 
Please point out the important items. 

Admiral Endicott. Paving and grading are important. That is for 
the new portion of the yard, and the purchase of additional land which 
was up before you last year, I think, is a very important matter. I 
would like to show you why I think it is important. It is connected 
with this matter of the abolition of grade crossings in the city of 
Washington. The law requires that all grade crossings shall be 
abolished by the 1st of July, 1908, and the branch from the Pennsyl¬ 
vania Railroad which comes into the navy-yard crosses all the streets 
at grade, and they have to be abolished in some way. They would 
have to tunnel or build an elevated railroad if the present line be 
retained, which would be very costty and very inconvenient to us, but 
it has been proposed to abandon the present branch to the navy-yard 
and to put in a switch up near where the bridge crosses the Eastern 
Branch and come down along the water front to the navy-yard on the 
east. They are coming now down here [indicating on map]. Our 
3 T ard is here [indicating on map] and here all the sidetracks are. The 
switching yard ought to be on the eastern side when this change is 
made by the Pennsylvania Railroad, and we need to purchase two 
squares here [indicating on map] on the water front for a yard for 
sidetracks and switches. 

The Chairman. A railroad yard? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir ; so that when they bring loaded cars to 
us they can put them in the yard and they can lie there until we take 
them with our locomotives and haul them to the storehouse or shops 
where they are to go and* empty them. The}^ are then brought back 
here [indicating on map] for the railroad to take them away. 

The Chairman. Would not the railroad do some of that for the 
business they get from the Government? 

Admiral Endicott. They will build the branch and obtain the right 
of way along the water front without any cost to us if we will pro¬ 
vide the yard and make the changes within our limits. 

The Chairman. How much land can vou get for $161,872? 

Admiral Endicott. A little more than 5 acres. It is water front. 


1G7 


It is the most valuable land, of course. That would be an average of 
about 70 cents per square foot. 

The Chairman. You can bu} T land for 70 cents up in the finest resi¬ 
dential part of the District, up on the hill where they are just opening 
it, just oft of Massachusetts avenue. 

Mr. Lille r. What do they ask for that land a square foot? 

Admiral Endicott. Seventy cents. 

Mr. Lilley. Do they know that we have to have it? 

Admiral Endicott. This is on the water front. We do not neces¬ 
sarily have to pay that, but that is put down as an estimate of the 
outside cost. 

The Chairman. Who owns that land? 

Admiral Endicott. I think that land is owned or controlled by real 
estate men. There is one man who owns a great deal of land there. 
I think his name is Weller. He owns a portion of it. 

Mr. Roberts. Do you know that you can buy those two blocks for 
$161,000? 

Admiral Endicott. They say they will sell it for that amount. 

Mr. Lilley. I guess there is no trouble about buying it; it is prob¬ 
ably worth about $30,000. It is a lot of wild land, as I remember it. 

The Chairman. Are there any houses on the land? 

Admiral Endicott. There are small improvements which do not 
amount to much. The improvements are estimated at $3,000. The 
procedure has been to place the limit of cost and authorize the Secre- 
taiy to purchase by condemnation if he can not get it at a reasonable 
price. 

The Chairman. What other items do you regard as important this 
coming }^ear? 

Admiral Endicott. Next to the railroad item, the railroad bridges 
and tracks, cost $40,000. 

The Chairman. Why do you regard that as important? 

Admiral Endicott. Because we have got to do something to make 
a new connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad. The present con¬ 
nection with the Pennsylvania Railroad has to be abolished. 

The Chairman. When will it have to be abolished? 

Admiral Endicott. The law requires that it shall be done by the 
lstof July, 1908. Now, if they come in on the east of this new branch, 
whether we buy this additional land or not, we have to change the 
tracks inside the yard and we have to build a bridge over a marine 
railway and slip at that portion of the yard in order to connect with 
that track. 

Mr. Roberts. That has to be done anyway? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; or else we lose the connection with 
the Pennsylvania Railroad and would have to depend upon hauling by 
teams. I do not know how they could get a gun in there. Guns 
come by rail, and also coal and forgings and everything that that 
navy-yard buys; and some things we ship from the yard by the Penn¬ 
sylvania Railroad. 

Mr. Roberts. It would be more expensive if we handled it by 
teams ? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; it would be impracticable. We have 
got to get ready by the 1st of July, 1908; otherwise, the Govern¬ 
ment is standing in" the way. I suppose the railroad would tear up 
their branch; they would have to under the law. 


168 


The Chairman. Does that cover about all ? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; the new foundry is very necessary, 
costing $100,000. 

Mr. Loud. We went into that very fulty last year? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. Most of these buildings have been 
before you for two or three years. All these buildings are for the 
Bureau of Ordnance, Admiral Mason. 

Mr. Loud. Is it not possible to put a foundry there that will take 
care of the smaller castings and still retain the present foundry, rather 
than to go ahead and build a new one simply because that is not quite 
large enough? 

Admiral Endicott. Build one for smaller work on a smaller scale ? 

Mr. Loud. No; take out all the smaller castings which take up so 
much storeroom, and that will give the foundry plenty of room for the 
large work which they are doing. 

Admiral Endicott. What would you do about the small castings, 
purchase them ? 

Mr. Loud. Purchase them, or put up a small foundiy to take care of 
that part of the work. 

Admiral Endicott. I do not know that that would reduce the cost 
materially. I do not know that that would be practicable. 

Mr. Loud. If it is feasible ? 

Admiral Endicott. It does not seem to me that it would be a good 
plan. 

Mr. Roberts. What is the necessity for the quay wall down there? 

Admiral Endicott. That is very important. The depth of water in 
front of the qua} T wall is not sufficient to bring in much more than a 
tug. The wall was built fifty or sixty years ago for shallow-draft 
vessels. 

The Chairman. You do not have many vessels lying there, only the 

Mayflower and the Dolphin? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; occasionally we have other vessels there. 

The Chairman. It is not a navy-yard; it is more of a gun factory. 

Mr. Roberts. Is there not water enough to get the boats up that 
take the guns to Indian Head? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. We want to get the same depth of 
water that the War Department is making up to the navy-yard, 22 
feet. 

Mr. Roberts. Would you bring up any other vessel than the Dol¬ 
phin or the Mayflower if you had 22 feet of water? 

Admiral Endicott. Occasionally another vessel comes there. 

The Chairman. The next item is “Navy-yard, Charleston, South 
Carolina. ■’ I wish you would furnish the committee with a statement 
of the total amount expended there up to date. 

Admiral Endicott. The total amount appropriated for that vard is 
$3,399,068.93. 

Mr. Lilley. And the total amount of business. Are vou doing 
any business at Charleston ? 

Admiral Endicott. No; the yard is not ready for work yet. 

Mr. Lilley. How many feet of water have you there? 

Admiral Endicott. About 30 feet. 

Mr. Lilley. I mean to get in there? 

Admiral Endicott. On the bar? 

Mr. Lilley. Yes, sir. 


169 


Admiral Endicott. They have about 27 or 28 feet at low water. 

Mr. Lilley. How much water do your largest vessels draw? 

Admiral Endicott. About 27 feet. 

Mr. Lilley. You are liable to have them drawing 40 feet in the 
next ten or fifteen years? 

Admiral Endicott. That is at low tide, Mr. Lilley. A big battle 
ship draws 27 feet. 

Mr. Loud. Is there any immediate need for that yard? 

Admiral Endicott. No more than has existed for several years since 
we commenced it—commenced to build a dry dock and to make other 
improvements there. Now, it is a question of going on and spending 
a considerable further sum to make what we have there available and 
useful or to discard what we have there. 

The Chairman. The dry dock is finished? 

Admiral Endicott. It is nearly completed. 

The Chairman. As soon as it is completed I suppose you will begin 
doing repair work there? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Have you sufficient shops there at the present time 
to do repair work? 

Admiral Endicott. They are not all fully equipped, but the most 
important shops have been built and completed, and the different 
departments are installing the machinery. 

Mr. Loud. Are not the present yards ampH able to take care of 
the present ships? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; in time of peace. 

Mr. Loud. Would it not be better to leave that yard ready and not 
put it in operation, and to keep those yards in commission full of 
business ? 

Admiral Endicoit. That could be done; it was done once with 
respect to some other yards. 

Mr. Loud. Would it not be the better policy ? 

Admiral Endicott. It may be done in time of peace. 

Mr. Lilley. Do }mu not think it was all folly to ever start this 
yard ? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; I do not think it was folly. I think it 
is a good idea to have one good yard south of Hatteras somewhere. 
I do not believe in making it a yard of the first class. I believe in 
having good docking facilities there, and facilities for moderate and 
ordinary repairs on that part of the coast. I think with the long 
extensive coast that we have it is important to have good docking 
facilities at intervals. I do not believe in making it like the New York 
or Philadelphia or Mare Island yards, however. 

Mr. Lilley. In time of war are we going to need a great many yards 
for repairs? In the last naval fight there was not any opportunity to 
repair. Suppose the Russians had had yards, they would not have 
had any use for them ? 

Admiral Endicott. The Russians did not have much facility for 
repairs, but many of their ships were badly damaged and needed 
extensive repairs. 

The Chairman. I would like to ask you whether you carried out at 
this yard the scheme of consolidating the buildings ? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; it was not done. The request came to 
Mr. Moody from the Senate to submit estimates for a yard on the 


170 


largest scale and such works as the different bureaus could carry on 
with advantage during the next year, and all the bureaus came in with 
their projects and Mr. Moody considered the matter of consolidation, 
but he thought he would not undertake it. 

Mr. Kitchin. I had an idea that the pian was to consolidate? 

Admiral Endicott. I believe each bureau got up a complete system 
of buildings. 

Mr. Loud. Are they building separate foundries in that yard? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; and separate machine shops, and every¬ 
thing. There is only one thing consolidated, and that is the power. 

Mr. Loud. Is it a reasonable proposition in this new yard to install 
foundries in each plant? 

Admiral Endicott. I do not think so. The plans made for this yard 
contemplated a consolidation of the workshops, but that feature was 
abandoned. 

Mr. Lilley. I would like to ask just one question before I go. A 
man told me the other day that Mare Island would make a good place 
for airships and all that sort of thing, but was no place at all for a 
navy-yard; that the channel tilled up every year, and that you would 
have to spend millions of dollars all the time to keep the thing dredged 
so that you could get a ship up there—and yet I see that you are ask¬ 
ing for $480,000 for that yard. This man said that he lived on the 
Pacific coast and said that it was throwing money away to expend 
money on the Mare Island yard. 

Admiral Endicott. I do not agree with him. There was a time * 
when it was very expensive to keep the channel open to a sufficient 
depth. 

Mr. Lilley. Does it not keep tilling in? 

Admiral Endicott. Not extensively. We have spent some money 
in the past three or four years for the purpose of improving the chan¬ 
nel by means of spar and training dikes and we have increased the 
depth without any trouble. We have not done an}'' dredging for the 
last two years, and the Charleston left there the other day, drawing 20 
feet of water, without any difficulty. 

The Chairman. As to the navy-yard at Charleston, 1 wish you 
would point out those things which you regard as necessary this year. 

Admiral Endicott. Grading and paving. 

The Chairman. To complete the dry dock, $50,000, do you need 
that? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is railroad system extension, $25,000. 

Admiral Endicott. Make that $15,000. The $30,000 for the cen¬ 
tral power plant is necessary. For railroad equipment we ought to 
have something, make it $5,000. J think the appropriation of $34,000 
for crane-track extension for the 40-ton locomotive crane which we 
are transferring from Port Royal to Charleston is necessary. Then 
there is the heating system extension, $15,000. 

The Chairman. Have you got the heating system in? 

Admiral Endicott. We have the central power plant for heating 
the various buildings. Make the conduit system $10,000 instead of 
$25,000, and give us $5,000 for sewers and $10,000 for electric-system 
extension. That does not go into the central power plant, but is for 
the extension of wiring; it is for outside work. 

Mr. Loud. Could not the} 7 have one general paint shop? 


171 


Admiral Endicott. They have no paint shop there at all, and if one 
is built it is proposed to make it general for all. At present there is 
not ver} 7 much painting. 

Mr. Loud. That would be a very successful plan if they kept it up. 

Admiral Endicott. Several of the bureaus have paint shops of their 
own. 

The Chairman. Does that cover the important items? 

Admiral Endicott. No. Some work ought to be done in front of 
the dry dock, dredging $98,000, in front of the dry dock and adjacent 
to it. There is plenty of water out in midstream. 

The -Chairman. We gave you $20,000? 

Admiral Endicott. That did not amount to anything. The quay 
wall—$50,000—is important. 

The Chairman. Can not you get along Avithout that this year ? 

Admiral Endicott. 1 think not. We need to do some work, 1 
think, around the dry dock for berthing the vessels. 

The Chairman. How much more? 

Admiral Endicott. Eventually, a very much larger sum. 

The Chairman. If we keep the yard down to do repairing and not 
make it first class, as seems to be your idea—not to make it a great 
big yard ? 

Admiral Endicott. No; I would not, but some of the buildings 
have been constructed on a large scale. Still, there is no reason why 
everything else should be carried out on the same scale. 

Mr. Kitchin. I think the indications are that it will be a pretty big 
yard. 

Admiral Endicott. The item of $100,000 for piers and slips is very 
important. 

The Chairman. Can not the appropriation for piers and slips be 
left out? 

Admiral Endicott. If you have to cut down it might be reduced, 
but it ought to be appropriated for. 

The Chairman. At Norfolk you are asking for $1,288,200. Please 
point out the important items. 

Admiral Endicott. Give us $10,000 for paving and grading instead 
of $25,000, $8,000 for rail road-track extension, and $100,000 for con¬ 
crete granite dry dock, to complete. That is the dock which is near¬ 
ing completion. 

The Chairman. Is that necessary ? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; that is the balance, the last appropria¬ 
tion to make. Piers and slips, additional, $50,000; I think that is 
very important. That yard is crowded with vessels at all times. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is that dry dock No. 4? 

Admiral Endicott. No. 3, the dry dock now nearing completion. 

Mr. Kitchin. What about this one, No. 4 ? 

Admiral Endicott. That is a proposed dry dock to cost $250,000, a 
small one for handling tugs and small gunboats. 

Mr. Kitchin. No. 5, to cost $1,375,000, that is a new proposition? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. That is to be a dock of large size, one 
to take the largest battle ship. There ought to be one at the Norfolk 
yard. 

The Chairman. How many docks have you there now ? 

Admiral Endicott. Three, including the one nearing completion. 

The Chairman. That will take the largest battle ship ? 


172 


Admiral Endicott. I understand this battle ship is to be not over 
510 feet on the water line, and if so she can be got into the dock. 

The Chairman. I think we had better build one before we go ahead 
with another. 

Admiral Endicott. It will be completed in a tew months now. ^ We 
have not many dry docks, and Norfolk is an important point. That 
yard should be well equipped with dry docks and everything else. 

The Chairman. It has more docks to-day than any yard except New 
York? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; it has three. If you want to fit out a 
large fleet from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in an emergency it 
would require an immense amount of work. Of course you could call 
on Newport News, because they have a couple of dry docks, but the 
duty upon all the resources of those waters would be inadequate. 

The Chairman. What else is there at that yard which is important? 

Admiral Endicott. Some navy-yards in foreign countries have a 
dozen dr\ 7 docks. I think England has one yard equipped with nearly 
18 or 20 dry docks. They could tit out a whole fleet in a few days, so 
far as painting and cleaning are concerned. 

Mr. Kitchin. When the matter was discussed before the committee 
in regard to concentrating these dry docks it occurred to me then that 
that was a very wise suggestion. 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; a few yards should be so equipped. 
At New York you can not get another one in, there is not room, but 
Norfolk permits of building several, and one yard on the Pacific coast 
should be well equipped with dry docks. There is an item for rebuild¬ 
ing coal wharf, which is very important. It is right in the center of 
the yard and is very much needed. We need also the $130,000 for a 
power plant. The telephone-system extension is one of the most 
important items there. The system is in a wretched condition. The 
extension of the compressed-air system is important. 

The Chairman. Fifteen thousand dollars? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. You might make the electric-plant 
extensions $20,000—that is, for outside work. 

The Chairman. Where do they lead to? 

Admiral Endicott. They are transmission lines to the new portion 
of the yard. We bought about 170 acres, and the Marine Corps has 
put up officers’ quarters and new barracks there, and we are extending 
in that direction with other improvements. 

The Chairman. Do you need $20,000? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. They also need a naval v prison at St. 
Helena very much. 

The Chairman. Can not they get along this year without it? 

Admiral Endicott. They might. The} 7 need it very much, how¬ 
ever. There is a training station, and a great number is confined. 
Machine shop, to complete, $25,000; that is important. 

The Chairman. Will that complete it? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; they say so. They need a new oil 
house very much, estimated to cost $40,000. 

The Chairman. What is the matter with the old one? 

Admiral Endicott. It is a little bit of a house, about 20 by 30, and 
there is danger in flammable oils being stored about the shops. I think 
that is important. It has been asked for for several years in succes¬ 
sion. After that I think probably the improvements to the 100-ton 



173 


shears to complete, $20,000, is the only other item I should mention 
specially. We have a fine 100-ton shears. It is operated b} r an old 
cumbersome chain. It does not answer the purpose. It is not up to 
date. Construction and Repair has asked us to improve it and I think 
it should be done. 

The Chairman. The next item is naval station, Key West, Florida, 
and you are asking for $251,500? 

Admiral Endicott. I think the “dredging and filling in” is the 
most important item. Make it $25,000 instead of $50,000. There 
ought to be one officers’ quarters and a decent house for the com¬ 
mandant, and they need some latrines there, $3,000. You can give 
us $5,000 for grading and paving, and a little extension of the water 
system, $2,000. As to the $12,000 for quarters for the commandant, I 
think we can put up what is necessary for $6,000. As to the very last 
item, the sidewalks along the outside of the station wall, the city has 
asked us to put up sidewalks there, and 1 can not do it without special 
authority of law. They thought they could compel us to do it. 

The Chairman. Is that on our own land? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; it is on our side of the street. It 
requires a special appropriation. 

The Chairman. Do the people walk along there very much? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; I think we had better do it. It is 
doing what a private individual would do. We removed the plant 
from Dry Tortugas and turned it over to the Treasury Department 
and the Marine-Hospital Service. There are some large steel tanks 
there for water supply. We want to use them at Key West. 

Mr. Kitciiin. Will they not need them at Dry Tortugas for the 
other purpose? 

Admiral Endicott. They will not have so much use for water. We 
used them for the visiting ships. 

The Chairman. Will not the Treasury Department remove them? 

Admiral Endicott. No, sir; we will not get them unless we take 
them away. 

The Chairman. Are they big tanks? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Do you need them at Ke} r West? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. We depend upon distilling water and 
what we can catch and store. 

The Chairman. That covers everything? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is navy-yard, Mare Island, Cali¬ 
fornia. 

Admiral Endicott. I want to say a word or two further about the 
dredging there. Mr. Lilley raised the point about its costing millions 
of dollars. 1 think that you will recall that I was before you two or 
three years ago, and I thought then myself that unless something 
could be done to improve the navigation there, without greater cost 
thipi then seemed probable, we might as well close up that yard and 
get a yard somewhere else, and 1 came before you for an appropria¬ 
tion, not for dredging, but for improving the channel in such a way 
as to make it self-maintaining, and you have given me, I think, about 
$250,000, and we are not asking for any more now. 

We have put in training dikes on the other side of the river and 
spur dikes, which do not interfere with navigation, and they are work- 


174 


ing admirably. It concentrates the current, increases the velocity, 
and that prevents the deposit of material. The prospect is that we 
will be able to maintain a proper depth there at a very small annual 
expense. There may be a little dredging once in a while. It has put 
that yard in a very different position, in my opinion, and we have been 
so far so successful that we think it warrants holding on to the yard. 

The Chairman. There is a point down below and away from Mare 
Island, in the channel- 

Admiral Endicott. I think you refer to San Pablo Ba} r . The War 
Department is improving that. They have dredged a 30-foot channel 
through there. 

The Chairman. Has there ever been a battle ship up to Mare 
Island? 

Admiral Endicott. The protected cruiser Charleston has been up 
there lately, and drawing, I think, 26 feet and 2 or 3 inches of water. 

The Chairman. But has there been a battle ship there? 

Admiral Endicott. No; but they can come there. Still, we have 
not asked for more than $480,000. It seems to warrant holding on to 
what we have and making some moderate improvements. 

Of course you want me to cut down these items wherever we can. 
The railroad system, make that $5,000; the electric plant extensions, 
$10,000; the sewers, about $3,000. The paving and grading, I think, 
ought to stand at $15,000. We very much need that. The heating 
system extension, make that $5,000. But we want the whole of that 
$100,000 for the central light and power plant. That is part of the 
consolidation. The telephone system, with extensions, can be made a 
couple of thousand dollars. I think the electric capstans for the old 
dry dock are important. They are working them by hand now, and 
we will connect them up with our electric plant. I think that ought 
to be appropriated. The extension to building 119, block and copper 
shop, is very much needed. They are doing a great deal of work of 
that kind at Mare Island, and they haven’t got room to locate the tools. 

The Chairman. Improvements to ship’s litters shop, to cost $15,000. 
What would be the nature of the improvements? 

Admiral Endicott. They want new skylights and some additional 
windows, costing $3,000. 

The Chairman. What do they lit but? 

Admiral Endicott. They manufacture fittings for ships, smaller 
articles. 

The Chairman. Woodwork largely? 

Admiral Endicott. Mostly metaf. I think the improvements to 
the buildings 69 and 71, which are the general storehouses, is one of 
the more important items. They want some ventilators in the build¬ 
ing, fioor in the attic, and mezzanine floors, and repairs to the roof, 
$20,000. It is for two buildings. 

Mr. Kitchin. Those buildings are used for what purpose? 

Admiral Endicott. For storage of supplies. They belong to the 
Bureau of Supplies and Accounts. Improvements to coal cylinders, 
$7,500. That is to lit them for the storage of cement. We have no 
place for the storage of cement. And they want a small workshop 
for the electrician, to cost $3,Q00. They train electricians on that 
coast. 

The Chairman. Do the} T have a training school there? 


Admiral Enjdicott. There is a training school down the harbor, but 
electricians are brought and put under instruction. 

The Chairman. Do you have a workshop at other yards? 

Admiral Endicott. We have one in New York for this coast. 

Channel moorings, Mare Island Strait, $9,000. I think that is 
important. Improvements to the naval prison, $50,000. This will 
be an extension of the building. 

The Chairman. How are 3 r ou off for a prison there now? 

Admiral Endicott. We have a prison, an old one, but it is not 
large enough. The number of enlisted men is increasing, and the 
number to be taken care of on the Pacific coast is increasing. That 
is the only prison w r e have. We have none on Puget Sound. 

There is an item for a dispensary building at $15,000, which should 
be appropriated unless vou appropriate for a medical supply depot to 
cost $50,000. 

The Chairman. The next is the Puget Sound Navy-Yard. 

Admiral Endicott. We would like $2,000 for sewers, which is the 
first item. The work of grading should continue there. I could 
reduce it some—make it $15,000 instead of $25,000. 

The electric-light extensions, $6,000, is an important item. 

Those water-system extensions and heating extensions are simply 
extensions of the distributing plant, and they might be made $5,000 
each. They are now $10,000 each. 

Dredging, to continue. We need that for some dredging around the 
piers and slips—$15,000. 

Roads and walks, extensions—we should have for that at least $5,000. 

Stone and concrete dry dock^ to continue. That is the dry dock 
authorized last year, and for which you appropriated $100,000. We 
ask for $300,000. 1 think you might make that $200,000. With the 

$100,000 already appropriated, I think that will be sufficient to carry 
us through the year. 

Central power plant, extensions, $130,000. That is needed. 

For the quay-wall extensions we ought to have at least $30,000. We 
changed it from $55,000 to $30,000, and we ought to have the whole 
amount asked there for additional power, $45,000. That yard is badly 
off for water-front improvements. 

For the officers’ quarters, I will say that they are very scarce there. 
If you can, I think it would be advisable to appropriate for one of 
those, $8,000. 

Drill hall, gymnasium, and wash room for enlisted men. That is not 
absolutely necessary this year, but it is something that ought to be 
provided, so 1 will pass it over. 

The underground conduit system— 3 r ou can cut that in half and make 
it $6,000. 

The next item, for electric elevators and fittings, I think can go over 
this year. 

The Chairman. The next is the navy-yard at Pensacola. 

Admiral Endicott. Machinery for central power plant, $35,000. 
That and the conduit system, $2,500, ought to stand. The power 
plant ought reallv to be $70,000. You authorized a plant there to 
cost not to exceed $130,000, and appropriated $60,000 last year, but 
while I was away the Secretary cut that remaining $70,000 down to 
$35,000. Let it stand at $35,000, and if before this bill passes we find 


176 

that there are contracts made to cover that I will let you know. That 
is the fifth item. 

Naval prison, $28,000. That is one of the most important items. 

The Chairman. Have 3011 got a naval prison there now ? 

Admiral EIndicott. We have a room in the guardhouse which is a 
miserable, insanitary place, and is not worth repairing; and, besides, 
the 3 T sometimes have to take care of a good many prisoners down 
there. As you know, the fleet visits Pensacola often. At every 
navv- 3 7 ard we have a little prison for confining a few men for a few 
da 3 7 s or a week. Pensacola is not near any large prison. One is 
needed on the Gulf coast of moderate size, as this is designed to be. 

The Chairman. Where do you send those that have been sentenced 
for some length of time ? 

Admiral Endicott. We have been building a prison at Portsmouth, 
N. H., and we have one at Boston. We have put in a rather large 
one at New York. 

The Chairman. Do you propose to build up one in every yard? 

Admiral Endicott. Not regular prisons. We have now a room 
with a number of cells. Sometimes we have a place about as large as 
this room with cells for a dozen or fifteen or twenty men for immediate 
confinement. I think that we need this at Pensacola very much. 

Improvements to storehouse building, No. 25, $5,000. That is for 
some additional shelving, racks, and so forth, to increase its capacity 
for the storage of material. 

I think there ought to be one officers’ quarters there, and there 
should be a shed for the storage of lumber. Lumber is now stored 
away in parts of buildings devoted to other purposes. 

The Chairman. The next is the nav 3 7 -yard at New Orleans. 

Admiral Endicott. Yes; that is $326,300. 

The Chairman. Are you doing much work at that yard? 

Admiral Endicott. There are not many ships visiting there; occa¬ 
sionally one goes there. This is for the dry dock, scraping, cleaning, 
and painting. 

The Chairman. Is there any repair work there at all? 

Admiral Endicott. I do not think there is. The constructor’s 
report will show, but I think there is veiy little. There is a good dr 3 r 
dock there; a fine one. 

The Chairman. What is \ T our idea about this yard? 

Admiral Endicott. I would keep it down to a small station; I would 
not spend much mone 3 7 on it. 

Now, at New Orleans we ask for a central electric light and power 
plant extension. I think that is a proper item and ought to be appro¬ 
priated for. 

The Chairman. Have 3 7 ou spent any money on that at all? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes; we have spent some money on it. If they 
do an 3 7 thing at all there the 3 7 will need a central power plant; there is 
no doubt about that, and we build this up and make it a central power 
plant for all purposes. 

The Chairman. You got $50,000 last year, did you not? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes, sir; this will make it all that is necessary. 
There will not be any further extension of that plant unless the yard 
is considerably enlarged. 

Now as to the improvement of the water front, which is the first 
item, and the levee improvement and grading, they are both impor- 


177 


tant in connection with the floating dry dock. That dry dock is first- 
class, and to make it useful we should have these other improvements. 
In fact about everything down on that list is necessary eventually, 
but } t ou can leave something off at present, if you like. 

The Chairman. What would you suggest? 

Admiral Endicott. 1 think the first three items, the improvement 
of the water front, and the improvement in grading, and the central 
power plant are probably the most important. That would be about 
$ 200 , 000 . 

The Chairman. Could we reduce them for the coming year? 

Admiral Endicott. Well, yes; you could make those first two items 
one-half, say $125,000; but as to the power plant, we want to enter into 
a contract for the whole amount, otherwise there will be two bites of 
the cherry. Now as to the railroad system- 

The Chairman. Have you got an extensive railroad system there? 

Admiral Endicott. No; not extensive. We have got a system 
there, and it is economy to be able to transfer all of the materials by 
railroad, and we are building a fine coaling plant there. I don’t know 
but all of the other items might be cut down. 

Mr. Kitciiin. How about the central heating plant? 

Admiral Endicott. Well, I think we could rest it this year on that. 
They do not need much heat there, only occasionally, when it is cold. 
I think they can get along for another year. Those are the most 
important items. 

The Chairman. We will now go to the naval station at Olongapo. 

Admiral Endicott. That is $690,000. 

The Chairman. You have an item there for dredging and reclama¬ 
tion, $200,000. Which of these items are the most important for the 
coming year? 

Admiral Endicott. The water system, and some portion of the quay 
wall, and the power plant. To initiate a power plant we can not go 
ahead very well for less than $100,000, because you can not contract 
for anything for much less than that. 

The Chairman. How about the dredging? 

Admiral Endicott. The dredging could rest for another year. 

The Chairman. How about closing the rivers? 

Admiral Endicott. I think that is important, for they bring down 
silt which increases the amount of dredging necessary. 

Mr. Kitchin. What are you going to do with the water from those 
rivers ? 

Admiral Endicott. It goes to the bay or harbor through another 
channel. 

Mr. Kitchin. A natural channel? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes. Some of these rivers go down through 
these marshes and have two or three outlets. They want to cut off 
one or two that empty right in the yard. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is it the purpose to fill in on that territory that is 
now occupied? 

Admiral Endicott. A good deal of the yard is below grade, and it 
is to be brought up to grade, and that would have to proceed in case 
of extensive improvements. But for the moderate scope of improve¬ 
ments contemplated here, it is not necessary to start that just now. 


n r—07-12 


178 


The Chairman. Then the water system, the quay walls, closing 
those rivers, the central power plant, and the new buildings started, 
are the most important. 

The next is the naval station, island of Guam. The first item is 
dredging. What is your idea as to that? 

Admiral Endicott. I think it is important. There are only two or 
three items that amount to anything. That dredging is $7,500. The 
water system might be cut down to $10,000, and the naval station 
roads about $5,000. 

The Chairman. Are those a part of the naval station there? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes. Those are the most important items. 

The Chairman. How is the fire protection system ?* 

Admiral Endicott. Well, I think you gave us something last year. 

The Chairman. Can that go over? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes. 

The Chairman. The next is the naval station, Hawaii. 

Admiral Endicott. There are only two items asked for there, grad¬ 
ing, curbing, and fencing, $1,100, and timbers for the piers, $2,000. 
I think that those ought to be allowed. They are not asking for any¬ 
thing in the way of new improvements. 

The Chairman. The next is naval station at Guantanamo. 

Admiral Endicott. The estimates from there amount to $704,800. 
You know we started a dry dock down there. 

The Chairman. If we do not give you any more you will not go 
ahead with that. 

Admiral Endicott. We have spent all excepting a few thousand 
dollars. 

The Chairman. The next is the naval station at Cavite; extension 
of building 64, $7,500. 

Admiral Endicott. I think that ought to be allowed. 

The Chairman. You do think that ought to be allowed? 

Admiral Endicott. We cut out everything. We had lots of esti¬ 
mates from there; I do not remember how much they amounted to, 
but a great deal. That extension of building 64—that is a lumber 
storehouse, and they haven’t sufficient room for the storage of mate¬ 
rial. The other building there is for a boathouse. They have no 
storage for boats. There is $1,500 for improvement of naval prison. 
That is simply to keep the thing up until we get out of there. 

The Chairman. We might want to staj^ there. 

Admiral Endicott. We might; yes. It is a good little yard. That 
yard has done an immense amount of work since the Spanish war. 

The Chairman. They do not seem to be asking for improvements. 

Admiral Endicott. The Department has ordered everything stopped 
there. I do not make any extensive repairs there without the consent 
of the Department. 

The Chairman. That shows we could get along without any of these 
yards if we didn’t appropriate a single dollar for them. 

Naval station at Culebra, $2,000. 

Admiral Endicott. That is for clearing, grading, and fencing. 
That ought to be granted. That is a place where there is no local 
interest. 

The Chairman. The next is naval station, San Juan, P. R. 

Admiral Endicott. We have asked something for the marine rail¬ 
way there. It is important. There is a good deal of coaling done 





179 


there, and this is for coal. We have to maintain a lot of coal barges, 
and we have not been able to take the coal barges out; in fact, they 
need repair, and this is necessary. 

The Equipment Bureau is asking for an equipment building, an 
anchor, chain, and galley shop. They do a little work down there. 
Vessels visit there quite frequentl} 7 . 

The Chairman. They have a little repair place at Culebra, haven’t 
they ? 

Admiral Endioott. No; there is not much there. We have never 
spent anything there. I think it might be well to allow these; they 
are small amounts, and it is a very good little station. 

The Chairman. I know, but is it policy to build it up? 

Admiral Endicott. There is nothing here that contemplates build¬ 
ing it up to any extent. 1 got estimates from there of over $2,000,000, 
and cut them all out excepting two or three things. There should be 
added, however, $1,400 for water supply. 

The Chairman. Naval station, Tutuila. 

Admiral Endicott. We asked for barracks for native guard, grad¬ 
ing and tilling, recreation building and fittings, and operating room, a 
total of $14,000. I don’t think the grading and tilling is very important, 
and that could rest, but the other things I think are important. 

The Chairman. How much of a guard have they there? 

Admiral Endicott. The} 7 have quite a guard down there. 

The Chairman. They sleep outdoors a good deal, do they not? 

Admiral Endicott. I suppose they do a good deal. 

The Chairman. What is the operating room? 

Admiral Endicott. The Surgeon-General wants to build a little 
room for operations, to cost $1,000. You know there is a ship sta¬ 
tioned there and a local guard. I think it would be well to allow that. 

The Chairman. Government landing, Newport, R. I. For steel 
floats, fences, dredging, and general improvement. 

Admiral Endicott. There is only one item of that, $7,840. 1 think 

they are important. 

The Chairman. What have you now? 

Admiral Endicott. We have cut out a good deal at that station. 
They came in for the purchase of additional land which the Senator 
from that State, Mr. Wetmore, recommended very strongly. We let 
just this one item stand. 

The Chairman. Is it a part of the station ? 

Admiral Endicott. It is not a station; it is a landing in Newport for 
the training station, war college, and torpedo station. It is also a point 
of call for the Treasury Department vessels, and the W ar Department 
also uses it as a landing. 

The Chairman. On Government land ? ' 

Admiral Endicott. Owned by the Government. It was decided 
that the Navy Department should maintain it for all three Depart¬ 
ments, the Treasury, War, and Navy, and the Yards and Docks should 
have charge of it under the Navy Department. 

The Chairman. Steel floating dry dock, $250,000.. 

Mr. Kitchin. Where is it determined to put that if it is authorized? 

Admiral Endicott. I think it would go to the mouth of the Patuxet 
River, Solomon’s Island. That is where the Cavite dock was moored 
and fitted out for towing and where she was tested. 

The Chairman. It would not be moved around very much ? 


180 


Admiral Endicott. No; I don’t think so. Of course it is capable 
of being moved at any time, if you want to, but 1 have always thought 
a floating dock on Chesapeake Bay would be an admirable thing. 

Mr. Kitchin. Don’t you think that unless we desire to fit up another 
naval station down there we had better put this diy dock at Norfolk or 
at some other point? 

Admiral Endicott. One reason wty 1 thought we had better keep 
it at Solomon’s Island is that it would keep vessels away from the 
navy-yard. I talked with some of the captains who docked vessels on 
this dry dock at Solomon’s Island as to their views about locating a 
dry dock there, and they thought it would be a fine thing if } r ou have 
no shore stations. We do not want any navy-yard, although I think 
some of the advocates have that ultimately in view. My idea would 
be to have no shore station at all. It is a beautiful, quiet piece of 
water, and when you want a vessel to go to the dry dock somewhere 
on Chesapeake Bay for cleaning, painting, and small repairs, instead 
of sending her to the navy yard, where she will be tied up for two or 
three months and where the heads of departments will come in with 
lots of requests for this repair and that repair, she could be sent to 
Solomon’s Island without taking up any room at a yard, and where 
she could be cleaned and painted and repaired. 

And then again it would take in a vessel with a deep draft or that 
may have been disabled, and would be drawing a few feet more than 
ordinarily, and which could not get up to the Norfolk Navy-Yard. 
The draft at Norfolk Navy-Yard is about 28 feet. I would not favor 
establishing a navy-yard anywhere on Chesapeake Bay. I think it is 
entirely useless. I think we need quite a number of minor stations at 
points along the coast, because the coast is so extensive, but I think 
they should be kept down within moderate limits. They should be 
second or third or fourth class naval stations, such that in time of 
peace you. can take a vessel in there to make some slight repairs with¬ 
out overcrowding the more important yards. But in case of war they 
could be availed of more extensively by temporary provision. 

Mr. Kitchin. The next item, plans and specifications for public 
works, is increased from $30,000 to $45,000. What is the necessity of 
that increase? 

Admiral Endicott. We have been hampered very much in the 
Bureau in carrying on the drafting and engineering work, and although 
I can use the different appropriations, for plans and specifications nec¬ 
essary and incident to their construction, I can not expend more than 
$30,000 of it in the Bureau. I can spend all I want in the navy-yard; 
in fact, I can spend ten times that amount at the navy-yards out of 
this special appropriation, but the law limits the amount which can be 
spent in the Navy Department proper in Washington. They are afraid 
of building up a big civil establishment in the Department. 

Mr. Kitchin. So all of this $45,000 is to be spent in the Depart¬ 
ment? 

Admiral Endicott. Yes. I can employ 20 draftsmen down at Wash¬ 
ington Navy-Yard to-day, and set them to work on these plans, 
but I can not employ them in my Bureau in the Navy Department. 
1 do not beat the devil around the bush in that way. I keep right to 
the law. 

The Chairman. Do they allow you any more in the legislative bill 
than $35,000? 


181 


Admiral Endicott. We have asked for an increase. 

The Chairman. But that bill has already passed the House. 

The next item, repairs and preservation at navy-yards, $500,000, 
which is $50,000 more than last year. 

Admiral Endicott. That is because we have such a large establish¬ 
ment to take care of. 

The Chairman. You will have no deficiency this year? 

Admiral Endicott. I never allow any deficiency in that appropria¬ 
tion, because I let things go. But think of the plant that we have 
there. It is worth about $85,000,000. Some of it, of course, does 
not need repairs, and the land is included in that valuation. But all 
of the buildings and the dr}^ docks and the wharves are very valuable. 

Mr. Kitchin. But then throughout the bill there are other items 
that carry appropriations for certain specified repairs. 

Admiral Endicott. Very seldom for repair. If I want extensions 
or something in the way of improvements, what a railroad would call 
u betterments,” then I would come to you for it. I do not think that I 
have asked for any item for repairs. I asked one for Norfolk, that 
was too expensive for my appropriation. This money is all carefully 
and judiciously expended, but it is not enough. That would be less 
than 1 per cent on the total value of the property belonging to the 
Yards and Docks. Of course that is not quite a fair comparison, 
because the land does not need any repairs, and the percentage of the 
cost of the dry dock is comparatively small, because a dry dock that is 
once built of granite would stand there for a century. The repairs 
would be to the perishable portions of the steel, machinery, etc. 

The Chairman. This closes your Bureau, I think. I wish you would 
extend your answers somewhat in the record upon those important 
items so that we will have full information in regard to them. 



















































































































































































[No. 8.] 

BUREAU OF STEAM ENGINEERING—STATEMENT OF REAR- 
ADMIRAL CHARLES W. RAE, ENGINEER IN CHIEF. 

Monday, December 17, 1906. 

The committee this day met, Hon. George E. Foss in the chair. 

The Chairman. The first item under the Bureau of Steam Engi¬ 
neering is— 

Steam machinery: For completion, repairs, and preservation of machinery 
and boilers on naval vessels, including cost of new boilers, etc., $3,500,000. 

That is the same as last year ? 

Admiral Rae. Exactly the same as last year. 

The Chairman. Of course you can not ask for a deficiency. 
Admiral Rae. No, sir. We have managed to pull through by cut¬ 
ting down pretty well, and I hope to do the same thing next year. 
The Chairman. Will you have an unexpended balance? 

Admiral Rae. There is a small unexpended balance, which goes to 
foreign accounts. We never know the exact amount of the foreign 
account until after the expiration of the fiscal year. We set aside 
practically the same amount every year. 

The Chairman. Has there been any large unexpended balance in 
the last two years? 

Admiral Rae. Not in my Bureau. 

The Chairman. Will you kindly furnish a statement showing how 
this money has been expended, the $3,500,000 ? 

Admiral Rae. I can show you practically how it is expended, but I 
do not know that you would like to listen to it. 

The Chairman. Just put it in the hearing, and also a statement 
with regard to the appropriation of $2,000,000. That is the same as 
last year? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. The following is a statement of the ex¬ 
penditure of the Bureau’s appropriation for the fiscal year ending 
June 30, 1906: 

Bureau of Steam, Engineering. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT. 

Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 

30, 1906 (act approved March 3, 1905)-$3,905,000.00 

Amount of deficiency appropriation (act ap¬ 
proved May 3, 1906)_ 100,000.00 

Total for fiscal year 1905-6-$4, 005, 000. 00 

Labor in navy-yards and stations in repair of 
steam machinery, boilers, etc., of naval vessels 
fitting for sea service, preservation and repair 
of tools, handling and preservation of materials, 

stores, etc_$1> 954,153. 99 

Purchase of materials, stores, machine tools, 

freight, and incidental expenses- 1, 555, 374. 09 


183 






184 


Payments for repairs, materials, freight, and inci¬ 
dental expenses for ships on freight stations— 


$472, 297. 89 


Total 


3, 981, 825. 97 


Less refunds by transfers in adjustment of ap¬ 
propriations and deposits by paymasters in 
transferring accounts_ 


82, 412. 68 


Total expenditure 



Balance in Treasury December 18, 1906, to meet outstand¬ 
ing obligations under appropriation steam machinery, 

1905-6 _ 105, 586. 71 

The Chairman. You do not think we could reasonably cut down 
these appropriations for the coming year ? 

Admiral Rae. I think not. In fact, I fancy there will be more 
ships in commission next year than this year, and as we have to 
exercise very careful supervision to keep within the appropriations, 
I think it would not be a good policy to cut them down. 

The Chairman. Out of that appropriation you do the work of 
repairing ships and overhauling ships ? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir; entirely out of that appropriation. 

The Chairman. During the past year what ships have been over¬ 
hauled ? 

Admiral Rae. I have a list of the ships that will in all probability 
be overhauled in the coming year. I have not a list of those which 
have been overhauled during the past year. Here | exhibiting] is an 
estimate of the probable expenditures for the coming year for that 
purpose. 

List of ships which will probably be given a general overhaul , 1907-8. 

U. S. S. Bailey_$80, 000 

U. S. S. Bennington_ 80, 000 

U. S. S. Brooklyn___' 40, 000 

U. S. S. Cavite torpedo destroyers_ 100, 000 

U. S. S. Detroit_ 150. 000 

U. S. S. Massachusetts_ 100, 000 

U. S. S. New York_ 100, 000 

U. S. S. Oregon_ 175. 000 

U. S. 8. San Francisco_ 100. 000 

U. S. S. Solace_ 30, 000 

U. S. S. Texas_ 100,000 

U. S. S. Vicksburg_ 10, 000 

U. S. S. Wyoming_ 10,000 

U. S. S. Baltimore_ 125,000 

U. S. S. Culgoa-i._ 25,000 

U. S. S. Marblehead_ 25, 000 

U. S. S. Nashville_ 60, 000 

U. S. S. Nicholson_ 20, 000 

U. S. S. O’Brien_ 20, 000 

U. S. S. Yankee, _ 2o! 000 

The Chairman. Will you please insert that in the record ? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir; I will do so. That is always subject to 
change. It may be that the ship at first decided to be repaired may 
afterwards be thrown out, but in all probability another will come in. 
The estimate usually averages about right. 

The Chairman. Your estimate for incidental expenses—$5,000— 
is the same? 





























185 


Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Could that amount be reduced? 

Admiral Rae. I think not. We have had to get along without a 
good many things that we needed. 

1 he Chairman. The next item is u Machinery plant, navy-vard, 
Pensacola, Florida,” and you are asking for $15,000? 

Admiral Rae. \ es, sir; that is very necessary. I asked for Pensa- 
cohi, $25,000, but it was cut down to $15,000 by the Secretary. 

Hie Chairman. What tools do you want to buy? 

Admiral Rae. A good many tools for the machine shop. The tools 
down there are all very old and out of date, and the work done costs 
more than it would if the machinery plant was in good order and had 
modern improvements. I think a good many of the tools down there 
have been in use since the civil war, and some of them before that 
time. 

Ihe Chairman. Can not you buy such tools as are necessary out of 
the general fund ? 

Admiral Rae. No, sir; I think not. They would cost too much. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

Machinery plant, navy-yard. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: To outfit new 
shops authorized and completed or nearly completed, especially the new boiler 
and pattern shops, etc. 

Admiral Rae. We are completing those shops now and we want to 
get the appropriation right away so we can get the tools and go 
ahead, so there w ill be no delay. The buildings are authorized. 

The Chairma'n. Are they building now? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Both the boiler house and pattern shop? 

Admiral Rae. The boiler shop is building, the pattern shop is 
authorized only. 

The Chairman. Is it possible to have one pattern shop for a whole 
navy-yard ? 

Admiral Rae. I do not think there would be any economy in that. 
You would have to have the same total number of tools in all prob¬ 
ability, and unless you changed the whole administration of the yard 
it would be difficult to do the work of different departments in one 
shop. 

The Chairman. Last year w T e gave you $110,000 for these new 
shops and this year you are asking for $50,000 more. How much 
are they going to cost ? 

Admiral Rae. It will cost to completely fit a shop anywhere from 
$250,000 to more, dependent upon the size of the shop. This is the 
first installment toward it. The $110,000 w T as a large amount. There 
was an extra amount put in there for a large traveling crane. That 
is what made it cost so much. 

The Chairman. How much work did you do at Portsmouth last 
year in your Bureau ? 

Admiral Rae. Of course at the Portsmouth yard w T e are building 
it up from a very bad condition, but I can give you the vessels which 
were repaired. 

Repairs w r ere made to the machinery of the following naval vessels; 
Don Juan de Austria , Eagle , Isla de Cuba, Potomac , Mayflower , 
Southery , Lebanon , Dolphin , Hannibal , Nezinscot , and Sioux , as well 
as to the machinery of the yard launches and ferry. The repairs to 


186 


the Don Juan de A ustria , Isla de Cuba , Eagle , Potomac , and Hanni¬ 
bal were of an extensive nature, involving a thorough overhauling 
of the machinery. Fifty-three steam-cutter engines were built dur¬ 
ing the year. 

Work has been done for other yard departments as follows: Ord¬ 
nance, Equipment, and Yards and Docks. Practically all the gray 
iron and brass castings required by these departments have been 
made in the foundry. Repairs have been made to all the steam 
generators in the yard. 

The Chairman. You have somewhere in some report a statement 
showing the amount of labor and material in your Bureau at the 
different yards? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir; we can give you the labor exactly. The 
material is always the stumbling block, because it runs over from 
one year to another. Material that was used this year may have 
been bought last year or the year before. 

Mr. Kitchin. Does your report show the amount of work per¬ 
formed under your Bureau at each of the navy-yards in the country ? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir; the labor is exact. There is no doubt 
about that. It is only in the material where we have any trouble. 
The material is turned over to the general storekeeper, and he may 
have material there which was bought last year and some the year 
before, and we just make a requisition and get it, but we do not know 
from what appropriation it came. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is there any inventory of the material at hand taken 
at these various stations?. 

Admiral Rae. I suppose there, is. That is entirely under the Bu¬ 
reau of Supplies and Accounts. 

The Chairman. You are asking for other shops this year at Ports¬ 
mouth ? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. How much is it going to cost to build the new 
shops—refitting and everything? 

Admiral Rae. Some of the buildings now used at this yard, as 
well as some of the tools, are antiquated and entirely unsuitable. A 
new machine shop has been built, a new boiler shop begun, and an 
appropriation toward building a pattern shop is available. An ad¬ 
ditional appropriation will be necessary for completion, as this is a 
preliminary appropriation. 

The Chairman. Are you not asking for some new shops this year? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. What are they ? 

Admiral Rae. There is urgent need that a modern foundry build¬ 
ing, forge, and pipe-shop building, coppersmith shop, and blacksmith 
shop building, erecting shop, and auxiliary power house, with proper 
equipment to be provided. The secretary called me up and told me 
that he went over with the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, 
who has charge of building all the new shops, what we had asked for, 
and, as he expressed it, he had “ slaughtered them very severely,” and 
he said “ if there is anything that you consider very necessary I wish 
you would Avrite me.” So I Avent to Admiral Endicott and found out 
what he had done, and wrote the Secretary a letter, Avhich he told me 
that he would “ send along with his blessing.” I do not know 


187 


whether it came to the committee or not, but I asked especially for 
buildings at League Island, Mare Island, and Pensacola. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

Machinery plant, navy-yard, Norfolk, Virginia: For machine tools to equip 
machine and boiler shop extension, $40,000. 

Admiral Rae. That is necessary to equip the shops that have been 
reconstructed and will require more tools. That amount is required 
for tools that are necessary to replace tools worn out and in the 
present shops. 

The Chairman. How about the machinery plant at Boston? 

Admiral Rae. The machinery plant at Boston? 

The Chairman. Yes, sir; for additional machine tools for boiler- 
shop extension. You are asking for it? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. If it is not allowed, why, of course, you will not 
need this appropriation? 

Admiral Rae. The tools would be placed as well as they could be, 
even if the extension of the building was not allowed, but it is simply 
the extension of a building already built to bring it out to the build¬ 
ing line and give us a much increased floor space which is very 
necessary. 

The Chairman. How about the machinery plant at New York? 

Admiral Rae. That is simply to supply the shops already in exist¬ 
ence, tools that are found necessary to replace others that are worn 
out, and to supply deficiencies. 

The Chairman. At League Island you are asking $25,000? 

Admiral Rae. We have just built some new shops there, and this 
is for the equipment of those shops. Three of them have been com¬ 
pleted entirely. Of course we move all the tools that are in good 
order from the old shops over to these shops, but it is always neces¬ 
sary to put in new ones on account of the increased size of the shops, 
due to the continued increased size of the Navy. 

The Chairman. Why should you increase the size of these shops 
when, as a matter of fact, they are doing very little work at League 
Island? We have a plant there that cost anywhere from $8,000,000 
to $10,000,000, and for some reason or other the Navy Department 
does not send ships that amount to anything there and they do not 
have any work to do. I have been there, and you can travel for miles 
through the shops and see comparatively few men working and few 
tools, and yet they are asking for extensions. 

Admiral Rae. The reason you do not see any more men is that we 
have to keep down the force to correspond to the appropriation, and 
many of them were probably working on board the ships. 

The Chairman. There seems to be a disposition somewhere to 
favor certain yards and not to divide up the work. 

Admiral Rae. More ships go there now than heretofore; quite a 
number of ships have been overhauled there. 

Mr. Lilley. It is your intention to have the ships repaired where 
they can be repaired to the best advantage? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Loud. Are not the Norfolk and New York yards now able to 
take care of all the repairs, and what is the use of starting up new 
yards ? 


188 


Admiral Rae. I do not think they are able to take care of it all. 
They are very much crowded both there and at Boston. I was in 
Boston a short time ago, and there were six battle ships there, and 
with the force on hand they were very hard pushed. 

Mr. Loud. I intended to have included Boston in my question. 
Those which are in vigorous use and able to take care of the repairs 
why urge the opening of other yards? 

Admiral Rae. They are sent there because they are the only ones 
that can take care of them at present. 

Mr. Lilley. Are they crowded down at League Island? 

Admiral Rae. Just at present, no. We have just sent two ships 
there. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “Guantanamo, Cuba.” Have 
you any shops there? 

Admiral Rae. No, sir. 

The Chairman. So, if you do not get any you will not need this 
appropriation ? 

Admiral Rae. No, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

Machinery plant, naval station, Cavite, Philippine Islands: For additional 
machine tools required to facilitate repairs to naval vessels on Asiatic stations, 
twenty-five thousand dollars. 

Admiral Rae. That is very necessary. That yard is doing an 
immense amount of work all the time. It is a question between 
Olongapo and Cavite, and is a question that never downs. I do not 
think Olongapo can be made a place to repair ships for years. They 
have no shops to speak of there, or anything. 

The Chairman. At Olongapo you are asking for $20,000? 

Admiral Rae. Because the Navy Department apparently wants to 
build up that place. 

Mr. Loud. At Cavite there were two ships being rebuilt, one a moni¬ 
tor and the other a cruiser. Are they still there under repairs? 

Admiral Rae. They are completed. 

Mr. Loud. Have you any ships there now ? 

Admiral Rae. Ships go there all the time. 

Mr. Loud. I mean ships undergoing general overhauling. 

Admiral Rae. No, sir. 

Mr. Loud. Those were having a general overhauling ? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. The Monterey was one, and there were two 
others, small cruisers, Helena and Wilmington. 

Mr. Loud. It seemed to me as I saw them that it would have been 
cheaper to have taken them out and sunk them in the China Sea. 

Admiral Rae. That yard does a great amount of work. 

Mr. Loud. They had 3,000 men when we were there. 

Admiral Rae. Small repairs can be made there without sending the 
ships here. General overhauling should never be done out there— 
never. The yard is not properly equipped for it. 

Mr. Loud. I thought it was a mistake at the time we were there. 

Admiral Rae. I think so. I do not think it should be done. 

The Chairman. Unless we build shops at Olongapo you do not 
need the tools? 

Admiral Rae. They are putting things in order, and we do require 
the tools very much, because they have got to have sufficient tools 
to do light repairing. 


189 


The Chairman. In connection with the dry dock? 

Admiral Rae. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. But nothing beyond that? 

Admiral Rae. Not at present; but we do require those tools very 
much, because we have not much there to speak of, and old buildings 
are being put in shape in which to install them. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

Engineering experimental station, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, 
Maryland—Salaries: One civilian assistant to the director, at three thousand 
dollars. 

Is the director a naval officer? 

Admiral Rae. He is; and therefore a civilian assistant director is 
very necessary. The director has been taken away two or three 
times to perform extra duties, and when he goes it just stops things 
for the time being. 

The Chairman. Have you anyone in mind for that position? 

Admiral Rae. No, sir. 

The Chairman. How would you get a man—advertise, or go to 
some of the technical schools? 

Admiral Rae. No, sir. There are several applicants for the posi¬ 
tion already. We would pick out one of the applicants, or we might 
go to the Civil Service Commission. I think, however, they do not 
have anybody as high as is required there. Great care would be taken 
in the selection because it is a place where we want a man of un¬ 
doubted ability. Last year you gave us all except the civilian assist¬ 
ant director. 

The Chairman. Have you started in there doing any experimental 
work ? 

Admiral Rae. These men are all employed erecting the experi¬ 
mental turbine that was purchased from Parsons in England and 
sent over here. It was brought in free of duty on account of being 
for experimental purposes. They are erecting it now and getting on 
toward the time to begin experiments. They will have it all ready 
in a short time. 

The Chairman. How about the next item, “Contingent,” $1,000? 

Admiral Rae. That is necessary for the simple reason that we 
wish to purchase papers with articles concerning experimental work, 
in addition to ordinary incidental expenses. 

The Chairman. Could not that be taken care of under the ap¬ 
propriation of $5,000 for “incidental expenses? ” 

Admiral Rae. The $5,000 would not be enough. We find it is 
all we can do to get along with the other incidental expenses we have 
outside of this experimental station. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ Experimental and research 
work, $25,000.” Do you require all that amount for the coming 
year ? 

Admiral Rae. I think so. That work is going on all the time, and 
that is the fund from which we pay the expenses. 

The Chairman. Then for buildings you are asking $50,000? 

Admiral Rae. Those buildings are very necessary. We have fin¬ 
ished the foundation of the experimental station and the contract 
for the superstructure has been let. There is no place where the 
officers can live, and they should soon be permanently there. 

The Chairman. You are not building that now? 


190 


Admiral Rae. Yes, sir; we are building the superstructure of the 
main building, the foundation being completed. The delay was in 
getting a clear title to the land there. Now we have it all right. 

The Chairman. You have not got it completed yet? 

Admiral Rae. No, sir. We are putting up the turbine in a build¬ 
ing loaned by the Naval Academy for the time being, but these men 
will have to be over there while the building is going up. 

The Chairman. How far from Annapolis? 

Admiral Rae. About 2 miles by road and the road is very impass¬ 
able at times and the river for a couple of months is rather difficult 
to cross, and they should be on the grounds. Besides that two of 
the buildings would be occupied by naval officers who now get com¬ 
mutation of quarters. In that case they would not. So there is 
a little offset against that amount. Those buildings should be put 
up at once. 

Mr. Ivitchin. Do you think the buildings suggested there will 
cost as much as $20,000 for one and $15,000 for each of the other two? 

Admiral Rae. I think these are much cheaper than the ones at 
the Naval Academy, and yet this station is part of the academy. 
The price of construction has gone up wonderfully in the last three 
years. I doubt whether it is enough, but I discussed that Avith the 
director, and he said he thought it would possibly do. 

Mr. Ivitchin. This does not include the cost of the land ? 

Admiral Rae. No, sir; the land now belongs to the Government. 
The cost of the new quarters, unfurnished, at the NaA^al Academy for 
the commandant of midshipmen—the director is a commander and 
will shortly be promoted, so it is a comparable statement—was 
$34,000, and we ask for $20,000. 

Mr. Ivitchin. The NaA^al Academy has a $10,000,000 limit, and in 
the opinion of a great many people they have been quite extravagant 
in the expenditure of the same. 

Admiral Rae. Another thing. The Quartermaster-General has made 
a statement, I think, that the cost of construction has gone up 30 
per cent, or something like that, in the last year and a half or two 
years. 

The Chairman. Under civil establishment the items are the same 
except as to Cavite ? 

Admiral Rae. That is not an increase in money. Those people 
before were paid from the navy contingent, and I want to get them 
on the civil establishment, where they properly belong; but the 
money is just the same. It is not an increase. It is shifting them 
from the navy contingent to the civil establishment. 

The Chairman. There was a proposition introduced by a Member 
of the House to limit your working appropriation of $3,500,000 to 
repairs under 10 per cent, or to make the same percentage that is 
now applied to Avooden ships applicable to steel ships as well, so that 
AvheneA^er there is any question of overhauling or any repairs in 
excess of that amount you would submit a general estimate to Con¬ 
gress. 

Admiral Rae. That is a question of administration. Of course, if 
Congress thinks that would be the better way to do it, it could be 
done, but I doubt very much whether it would be more economical 
to the Government, and it might create great delay Avhen we Avant to 


191 


overhaul a ship and do not anticipate it in time to get it up to Con¬ 
gress. 


Ihe proposition to limit repairs of steel vessels to those less than a 
certain percentage of the value of the ship might possibly be advan¬ 
tageous so far as protected cruisers and other unimportant vessels are 
concerned, but should not apply to armored cruisers, battle ships, and 
torpedo boats, except such as are of so faulty or obsolete design as to 
carry a reasonable doubt as to the advisability of continuing them 
longer in service. The reasons governing the advisability of over¬ 
hauling vessels may be greatly different in nature; cases may arise 
where the hull of a vessel will require but few repairs, whereas steam- 
engineering repairs alone, or together with ordnance and equipment 
repairs, might involve considerable expense. In many such cases it 
would appear to the Government’s interest to overhaul the vessel 
rather than to condemn her and have her replaced by a new vessel. 
It would, therefore, appear that each case should be considered upon 
its own merits by the Department, this matter being left entirely to 
its discretion. 


If this matter must be made the subject of legislation, 25 or 80 per 
cent would seem to be a fairer estimate, the Department to use its dis¬ 
cretion below the percentage established for the reason that it might 
not be advisable to repair vessels of an obsolete type at less expense. 

As regards the proposition for the Congress to specifically appro¬ 
priate money for general overhaul, each ship by name, I consider that 
such a policy would entail great loss of time and long periods of 
waiting for authorization and money to carry on necessary work, pos¬ 
sibly doubling the time during which the services of a vessel would 
be lost to the Government. 

As a whole, in both cases, in my opinion, the present method appears 
to be the better one. 

The Chairman. Is there anything further which you desire to say 
to the committee? 

Admiral Rae. I sent a letter to the Secretary in regard to buildings 
at the Mare Island. Navy-Yard. They are very necessary. We are 
going to build a collier out there. The Secretary told me to write a 
letter on the subject, which I did, and I took it to him personally, and 
he said that he would send it along with his blessing. Whether it 
came to the committee or not, I do not know. This is a copy of the 
letter which I sent to the Secretary: 


Department of the Navy, 

Bureau of Steam Engineering. 

Washington, />. C., November 19, 1906. 

Sir: 1. This Bureau is informed that, in the estimates submitted by the 
Bureau of Yards and Docks, under the head of “ Public improvements,” for 
buildings to be used by this Bureau, the following are a few of those not ap¬ 
proved by the Department, and which the Bureau considers absolutely essential 
for the proper performance of the work under its cognizance. 

Item 1. Navy-Yard, League Island. Pennsylvania: Administration building 
and drafting room, $20,000. 

Reason: The offices are located in the new shop building, which is barely 
sufficient in size to carry on the work, it being necessary to move from the old 
offices in order to make room for the general storekeeper. 

Item 2. Navy-Yard, Mare Island, California: 

(a) Administration building and drafting room, $20,000. 

Reason: The present office, etc., are in one corner of the general storehouse, 
and the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts has already requested that they be 
vacated in order to make more room for stores. 


192 


(b) Pattern shop, $00,000. 

Reason: The present shop is the upper floor of the present machine shop. It 
has been necessary to remove a large portion of the flooring in order to install 
the traveling cranes for use in the building and erection of the machinery for 
the collier Prometheus. 

(c) Extension of machine shop building, $125,000. 

Reason: The present machine shop is entirely too small to cope with the 
increasing work of this yard, and, with the addition of the work on the collier, 
the output will.be decidedly decreased owing to the congested condition. 

Item 3. Navy-yard, Pensacola, Fla. 

(a) Machine shop, $40,000. 

Reason : Owing to the increasing work at this station, the Bureau considers 
this very essential. The present facilities are extremely limited. 

(b) Administration building and drafting room, $20,000. 

Reason: The present ottic-e is a small room only and entirely inadequate. 

Very respectfully, 


C. W. Rae, 

Engineer in Chief, V. S. Navy, Chief of Bureau. 


The Secretary of the Navy. 


That letter was sent to the Secretary and he said he approved it. 
To build the collier out there it will be necessary that the large 
traveling crane should be used in the machine shop from one end to 
the other, and we have torn down consequently a portion of the floor 
which formed the pattern shop to allow the crane travel. Now, we 
require a pattern shop and we require an administration building. 
Our offices are in the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts’ storehouse 
and they have told us to get out, and we have no place to go. The 
extension of the machine shop is the most pressing necessity, as stated 
in the letter to the Secretary. The congestion is already acute and 
will be worse when the machinery for the Prometheus is building. 


[No. 9.] 


STATEMENT OF CAPT. ALBERT ROSS, COMMANDANT OF THE 
NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES. 

The committee met at 10.30 o’clock a. m., Hon. George E. Foss 
(chairman) in the chair. 

The Chairman. You are the commandant of the naval training 
station at the Great Lakes? 

Captain Ross. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. I wish you would tell us how you are getting on 
out there in a general way. 

Captain Ross. We made a very fair start and proceeded with the 
work on the main bridge, and laying the water mains, the digging 
of the harbor, and building the levees, but on account of the cutting 
of the lake front have been compelled to throw in a series of cribs. 
With our facilities the cribs are not all as strong as they should be, 
and as a result two of them have been swept away as a result of 
storms. About one-third of the harbor has been dug, the contractor 
having struck all sorts of difficulties, not only in digging the harbor, 
but in holding the material which is taken from the harbor, a blue 
clay of the oiliest nature, and it is almost impossible to retain it. 

The Chairman. You have let the contract for the deepening of 
this basin, have you? 

Captain Ross. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. What is the amount of the contract? 

Captain Ross. The amount of that contract was $35,000. That is, 
we had two jobs at the same time. We dug the basin at the same 
time that we filled the ravines necessary to be filled on account of 
the layout requiring certain buildings to be located over these 
ravines. 

The Chairman. You say the storm has washed away that shore? 

Captain Ross. When I took possession of the property the lake 
front was intact, with a beach of 25 to 30 feet in front of it, so that 
you could drive from the station to North Chicago. At present the 
whole north front has been washed away. The encroachment has 
been more this year than ever before, and part of it may be due to 
some cribs that* have been put in above us by the North Chicago 
Improvement Company. 

The Chairman. Now, you want to protect that, to make a pro¬ 
tection there? 

Captain Ross. We want to protect that. 

The Chairman. What will it cost you ? 

Captain Ross. I think we can do that with the funds we have. 
We have asked for $10,000 in the next year’s maintenance. 

The Chairman. What other work has since been done out there? 

Captain Ross. The water mains have been practically completed, 
N p—07-13 193 


194 


and all have been tested with the exception of the 12-inch mains, 
which can not be tested until the mains are run across the bridge. 
A contract has been let for that purpose, and as soon as the bridge 
is completed those mains will be run across and the 12-inch mains 
tested, and that will complete the water mains. 

The Chairman. This year you are asking for— 

Electrical mains and conduits, beating mains and concrete conduits, beating 
station equipment, power-plant equipment, water-supply and sewage disposal, 
two hundred thousand dollars. 

What are those electrical mains? 

Captain Ross. In the work we have in hand we are going to put 
down the electrical mains, the water mains, and sewer mains, and 
all the water and electrical and sewer work before we put the build¬ 
ings up. Those electrical mains are the mains which you see laid 
down in any city, with the ordinary earthenware conduits; but they 
will be required to carry wiring all over 282 acres of land. 

The Chairman. What is the heating station equipment? 

Captain Ross. On account of the conditions there that power house 
will have to go on the beach and out in the lake, and in the heating 
proposition what is desired is the hot-water system. 

The Chairman. Hot water and hot air? 

Captain Ross. Hot water. The idea of that is that we propose to 
take 1,800 horsepower or boiler power and conduct that through 150 
kilowatts electric power. Then with that we steam, and we propose 
to heat the whole of that institution. The difference between steam 
and hot water is just this: It will require the same plant to put the 
live steam in, but the cost of maintenance year after year is going to 
be immense, the question of packing of valves and covering the pipes, 
the protection of the pipes, of lagging, and so forth, is going to be 
very expensive, whereas with hot water that will not enter. 

The Chairman. You believe that will be more economical? 

Captain Ross. Yes; decidedly more economical; and more than 
that, you have the control of the heat. 

The Chairman. You speak about the water supply and the sewage 
disposal. 

Mr. Roberts. Before we leave that, may I ask the Captain a ques¬ 
tion? 

The Chairman. Certainly. 

Mr. Roberts. It is the design to heat all the buildings from the 
central heating plant ? 

Captain Ross. Yes, sir; from the central heating plant. 

Mr. Roberts. Have you any question as to the possibility of send¬ 
ing the water over those lines ? 

Captain Ross. No, sir; none whatever. 

Mr. Roberts. You can keep up heat in the pipes? 

Captain Ross. That is the point of these conduits. These conduits 
are made of reenforced concrete. They are large enough for a man 
to walk through, and we will have control of those pipes so that in¬ 
stead of digging up your grounds those conduits will be open so that 
all our water mams and steam mains and sewerage will be in the con¬ 
duit, and the roof of that conduit will be the sidewalks. 

Mr. Roberts. Is it your idea to run your electric wires in the same 
conduit? 





195 


Captain Ross. Xo; you can not do it. 

Mr. Roberts. What is the objection to that? 

Captain Ross. In the first place, it would require very much more 
of a main and the use of terra cotta. You run your electric wires 
through, and you put them right in the ground, and it is right there 
just as it is in the city. 

Mr. Roberts. Would it not be desirable to run these electric wires 
in this tunnel, as I understand it is, as far as practicable, and then 
continue, where you have to go beyond the tunnel, with the pipe? 

Captain Ross. The cost would be very much more, and there is a 
question of the electrolytic action there. They do not want the 
water mains and electric mains together if they can help it. 

Mr. Roberts. If I understand correctly, the plan is to make a 
tunnel, like, and in this tunnel you will carry your steam pipes and 
hot-water pipes and your sewer pipes? 

Captain Ross. Xo, sir; such sewer mains as we can carry through 
there will be carried, but as a rule these are in the front of the 
buildings and the sewer mains are in the rear of the buildings. 
Some of them will go in there. Everything we can put in those 
conduits will go in. 

Mr. Roberts. I do not understand why you can not install your 
electric wires in that tunnel without danger of electrolysis. Insulate 
the attachments and insulate the wires themselves. Then you have 
your wires where you can get at them conveniently. 

Captain Ross. The engineers seem to think that it is not good prac¬ 
tice, and the cost will be ver}^ much greater. 

Mr. Roberts. There is great complaint in all the cities now, even, 
of the underground conduit. They say that the electricity is affect¬ 
ing all the water pipes. So that the electrolysis exists, it seems 
to me, whether you have your wires in a separate pipe conduit or in 
the tunnel. 

Captain Ross. They would not be in so close contact if they were 
in the separate conduit. 

Mr. Roberts. I just wanted to get the idea of it. 

The Chairman. What about this water supply and sewage dis¬ 
posal? What is that going to cost you? 

Captain Ross. The filtration plant and the sewage disposal will cost 
$75,000. 

The Chairman. For the whole thing ? 

Captain Ross. That is just the plant itself; none of the connections. 
The preparation of the ground does not come into that. For in¬ 
stance, the sew r age-disposal plant will be on the south side of the 
harbor, and there is a sort of hogback there. We shall have to cut 
both ways. First, w T e will have to drive the sheath piling out in the 
lake in order to retain this earth, and at a level of 14 feet we put the 
sewage-disposal plant. The question of the cost of that is still to be 
considered, because if we can we want to cover the septic tanks oyer 
with earth and sod them down, so that it will be an attractive 
feature of the plant. Otherwise they will be of brick and will remain 
in sight, and it is not a very sightly feature. But the plant we have 
evolved so far, I think, is the best plant I have found in the country. 
I have inspected many of them and have found a great many of 
them that were good, but this system is the best that has been evolved 
in the country. 


196 


Mr. Egberts. What is the system ? Do you take your sewage into 
a chamber and then mix some antiseptic or lime with it ? 

Captain Ross. No; the system is just this: You cut out from your 
sewage system all your storm water and all street washings, so that 
you get nothing in your sewer pipes but the ordinary house material 
from your kitchens and from your water-closets. That is thrown in 
what are called septic tanks, and there are usually four or six. Now, 
it depends upon the amount of richness of the material how long it 
remains in the septic tank. If it is very rich eighteen hours is all that 
is necessary. It runs from eighteen hours to thirty-six hours. There 
is a scum which forms on this. It is broken up in this septic tank. 

Mr. Roberts. How is it broken up ? 

Captain Ross. There is an agitator. 

Mr. Roberts. It is done by machinery? 

Captain Ross. Yes. There is a scum forms on it about 4 to 6 
or 8 inches thick, and in that scum is the microbic and anaerobic 
action that takes place, of these little microbes eating each other— 
that is what it amounts to; so that at the end of eighteen or thirty- 
six hours it is then run off into what is called a basin. Passing 
before that there is an aerator, and in this case we have decided on 
a little pump in the basin in front which will throw the matter into 
the air and make the aeration very much quicker. 

Mr. Roberts. Can you run that aerator with its fountain out in 
the grounds in winter? Will it not freeze up? 

Captain Ross. No; because the water is warm in it. 

Mr. Roberts. When it is thrown into the air what does it fall 
into ? 

Captain Ross. It falls right back into this little basin, and away 
it goes from that into the pipes. 

Mr. Roberts. Do yout think that is going to be warm enough so 
that it will not freeze up ? 

Captain Ross. If necessary we will put a little frost-proof house 
over it, and admit the air, which will be warm about it. For 
instance, at Mansfield, Ohio, they aerate there by means of water 
steps. 

Mr. Roberts. A little cascade? 

Captain Ross. Yes; a little cascade; and they have no trouble 
with it at all. 

Mr. Roberts. Let me ask you, in the process of disposal of the 
sewage which you propose, do you put any antiseptic in it? 

Captain Ross. No; there is no necessity for it. After it has passed 
through the second bed it is 95 per cent pure and as clear as crystal. 

Mr. Roberts. Is there not some process in this plant after which a 
thick residue is left ? 

Captain Ross. That depends on the intelligence of the man who 
is going to attend to it. If he is an intelligent man and knows his 
business there will be very little. The sludge that is deposited in 
that water, in the septic tank, or that is deposited on the top of the 
beds in five years did not amount at Mansfield to three cartloads. 
There was practically nothing in the beds, and they were badly 
handled. 

Mr. Roberts. After this scum is taken off, that, I understand, is 
what is thrown into the air and aerated—the scum? 

Captain Ross. No; the water. 


Mr. Roberts. The whole business. What becomes of the scum? 

Captain Ross. The scum disappears with the water. It is a grad¬ 
ual absorption. First it is formed, and this microbic action takes 
place. 

Mr. Roberts. Then where is the final product—the water and 
sludge, and everything together—deposited? 

Captain Ross. That goes into the aerator, and from there into the 
beds, which are about 5 feet deep, composed of slag and granite. 
Burnt slag is about as good as anything, starting in with lumps from 
3 to 4 inches and going right to the top with a gradual diminution 
until on top it is what is called “ buckwheat.” 

Mr. Roberts. That is a sort of filter? 

Captain Ross. That is what it is, and this action takes place in 
this first bed, but in the second bed there is no action. At Mansfield, 
which is considered the sample plant of the country, the economics of 
the question were not considered at all, because for the garbage 
crematory they had to have the fuel and the pumps, and .all that, and 
all that could have been utilized in the production of municipal 
lights; and in the handling of the separate tanks they did not even 
consider whether two tanks would do the work, but they used all four 
when two would have done the work better than the four. 

Mr. Roberts. ITow often does this slag, or whatever you use for 
filtration, have to be removed? 

Captain Ross. At Mansfield it had been in for 'five years, and they 
thought they ought to take otf about a foot of it on the surface, it 
was not handled properly. The material was not diffused properly. 

Mr. Roberts. What becomes of the odor in this process? 

Captain Ross. There is very little, if it is properly managed. 

Mr. Roberts. I suppose the final product is discharged into the 
lake. 


Captain Ross. It is scattered off over there. 

Mr. Roberts. Yes. 

Captain Ross. I took a bottle of it right where it discharged into 
the little stream at Mansfield. The stream was the color of molasses, 
and the material of the little cascade going into it was as clear and 
pure as could be. There was no formation of green material, such as 
you usually find. I took this bottle to the doctor and asked him what 
it was, and he said that he did not know, but he took a drink of it 
before I could prevent him. 

The Chairman. This is the best system that you know of? 

Captain Ross. Our system that we propose is, I think, an im¬ 
provement on the Mansfield system. 

The Chairman. You are asking here for— 


Furniture, commandant’s quarters, three thousand five hundred dollars, and 
furniture, six officers’ quarters, at one thousand five hundred dollars each, nine 
thousand dollars. 


Will you need all of that money to furnish those quarters? 

Captain Ross. This year? 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Captain Ross. I am very sure I will not need the furniture for the 
commandant’s quarters this year. 

The Chairman. You can strike that out? 

Captain Ross. Yes. 


198 

The Chairman. When do you expect to get this whole plan fin¬ 
ished ? 

Captain Ross. We expect to have the plans completed and the con¬ 
tract awarded before the frost is out of the ground, and the contractor 
is to have an opportunity to haul in the material and commence the 
work just as soon as the frost is out of the ground. We want one 
contractor, if we can get him, and with the methods of a man that is 
capable of handling a large amount of work of that kind it should be 
completed in two years. 

The Chairman. In two years ? 

Captain Ross. Yes. Now, there is a question which comes in there. 
The Secretary has recommended $750,000. 

The Chairman. Can we not reduce that ? 

Captain Ross. No; I should say add to it. 

The Chairman. The final payments will not be made until the end 
of two years. 

Captain Ross. I know, but on that the Secretary can, under the 
law, enter into contract to the amount of $1,900,000; but my im¬ 
pression is that if you appropriate $750,000, if we have any luck at 
all, the buildings should be completed before the end of two years. 

Mr. Kitchin. This item at the bottom of page 102 says that is to 
cost $1,250,000. 

Captain Ross. The total is $1,250,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. This says to cost $1,250,000. It seems that is the 
limit of the cost of that. 

The Chairman. The limitation was fixed at $2,000,000 for those 
buildings. 

Mr. Kitchin. Two million dollars? 

The Chairman. Last year. 

Captain Ross. Last year they appropriated $750,000. 

The Chairman. That must have been a mistake, $1,250,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. It says here— 

To complete buildings in accordance with the provisions of the act of 
Congress approved June twenty-ninth, nineteen hundred and six, to cost one 
million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, seven hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars. 

Captain Ross. That is for the completion of the buildings over 
and above the $750,000 heretofore appropriated. 

Mr. Roberts. Just one more question in regard to the sewage. 
I understand you are going to separate the house water from the 
surface water? 

Captain Ross. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Roberts. How are you going to separate it from the surface 
water? 

Captain Ross. The surface water goes into a little creek and into 
the harbor. 

The Chairman. Are there any other questions? If not, we will 
present Admiral Mason to the committee. 

Captain Ross. There is one point there, in regard to the Secretary 
cutting that down, to cost $393,000. Our original estimates were 
$393,000 for the electrical mains and conduits and heating mains and 
conduits and heating station equipment and power plant and water 
supply and sewage disposal, for which $200,000 is appropriated this 






199 


year. I wanted the understanding on that, because we are now pre¬ 
paring the plants for the installation of our power plant, and on 
that I want to install the hot-water system; because it is the economi¬ 
cal system for the future work, and in the construction of this insti¬ 
tution everything that pertains to economy has been considered. 
The maintenance will cost the minimum. We are putting in coal 
and ash handling plants, and overhead bunkers, and the railroad 
train goes right over the power house; so that it should be a minimum 
cost, and three men should do all the work in that institution, one 
man in charge of the refrigerating plant and the pumps, another 
man in charge of the electrical plant, and a third man in charge of 
the boiler plant. So you can say that the cost is going to be a 
minimum. 








P*o. 10.] 

STATEMENT OF BRIG. GEN. GEORGE F. ELLIOTT, COMMANDANT, 

ACCOMPANIED BY COL. FRANK L. DENNY, QUARTERMASTER, 

AND COL. GREEN C. GOODLOE, PAYMASTER. 

The Committee on Naval Affairs, 

Tuesday , December 18 , 1906. 

The committee this day met, Hon. George E. Foss in the chair. 

The Chairman. The first item is on page 170 of the bill,: 

Pay, Marine Corps: For pay and allowances prescribed by law of officers on 
the active list, five hundred and ninety-eight thousand one hundred and forty 
dollars, and for the following additional officers here authorized: One lieutenant- 
colonel. assistant adjutant and inspector; one lieutenant-colonel, assistant quar¬ 
termaster; one major, assistant quartermaster; four captains, assistant quarter¬ 
masters ; one major, assistant paymaster; three captains, assistant paymasters; 
fifteen captains, fifteen first lieutenants, seventy-six thousand and twenty dol¬ 
lars, a total of six hundred and seventy-four thousand one and sixty dollars. 

Now, take the first part of that item, $598,140. That is for the pay 
and allowances of officers now on the active list, is it? 

Colonel Goodloe. That includes all with the additional ones sub¬ 
mitted. 

The Chairman. You submit these additional officers whose pay 
would amount to $76,020. Will you please state the necessity for the 
additional officers? 

General Elliott. Sixty-five per cent of the officers in the Marine 
Corps are serving aboard ships or in the Tropics—that is, taking 
myself and counting all the staff. They serve two years and two 
years and six months in the Tropics. There is no relief for them. A 
man comes home from the Philippines to-day and he will have to 
be ordered to sea on a battle ship almost to-morrow. We have not 
officers sufficient to command the men. Then, there is a fearful block 
in the captains’ list of the line. The men are all nearly of the same 
age. In fact, some of the junior captains in rank are not junior in 
age to the senior captains. We have asked this promotion in the staff 
to break this block. 

The Chairman. These are all staff officers? 

General Elliott. We have asked that 11 line officers should go 
into the staff to break the block. Many of the captains are fit for 
staff officers and like the duty. If they transfer from a captain in 
the line to a captain in the staff' their juniors in the line will pass 
up numerically in grade. If these promotions are made and 15 
captains and 15 first lieutenants for the line are allowed, it will 
increase the corps by 41 officers. We sadly need these officers. 
There is no post that has its complement of officers or anywhere 
near it. 


201 


The Chairman. How are you situated in the matter of line offi¬ 
cers? 

General Elliott. We are very, very short. 

The Chairman. Which do you regard as the more important, the 
additional line officers or staff officers ? 

General Elliott. The trouble is this: If I do not get the staff 
officers they will take them from the line and make them acting in 
the staff. We have an acting paymaster in the Philippines disburs¬ 
ing money for 1,300 men. They not only take the line officers away, 
but the quartermaster and the paymaster want the best. In putting 
them into the staff it allows a promotion, sometimes in grade when 
it is a first lieutenant, but if it is a captain he gets no promotion in 
rank, but it breaks this block in the captains’ list, and unless it is 
done, promotion of the junior captaincy is hopeless. It will be 
thirty years before he reaches the higher grade. 

The Chairman. How is it in the line; do you have about the same 
number of officers for each company as the Army does ? 

General Elliott. We have about half the number that the Army 
has. We have one lieutenant-colonel to fourteen hundred men. We 
have one colonel to fourteen hundred men. We have one major to 
585 men. We have one captain to 122 men; the Army has one cap¬ 
tain to 66 men. 

The Chairman. How are you situated in regard to captains? 

General Elliott. We are short still. You take 9,000 men, and a 
regiment alone requires—let the staff go entirely—-44 officers, and 
multiply that by 9, making 396 for 9 regiments. We have now only 
278 officers, line and staff. 

The Chairman. For instance, how many men do you have to a 
captain ? 

General Elliott. In our corps? 

The Chairman. Yes, sir. 

General Elliott. We have 122 men. 

The Chairman. In the Army how would it run ? 

General Elliott. If the Army is full, 100,000 men- 

The Chairman (interrupting). As the Army is situated to-dav. 

General Elliott. There is a captain to about" 66 men. 

The Chairman. If the Army was full up to 100,000 ? 

General Elliott. And they did not increase in war time, they 
would have a captain for 112 men. 

The Chairman. How many lieutenants do you have? 

General Elliott. We have a first lieutenant and a second lieuten¬ 
ant to a company, the same as in the Army. 

The Chairman. Your company consists of how many men? 

General Elliott. We have a captain for about 122 men. 

The Chairman. That is more than a company ordinarily? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir; we have not the full quota of officers 
and never have had. 

Colonel Denny. Our companies are about 83 men. 

General Elliott. You take on a battle ship and they insist on not 
having over 60 or 70 men, and we are obliged to put a captain there. 
Pake the barracks here in Washington; there is not a captain there— 
three first lieutenants and a couple of hundred men. We have not 
got the force. 



203 


Ihe Chairman. Do you need more line officers or more staff 
officers ? 

General Elliott. We need both equally—11 staff, 30 line. 

The Chairman. Do you mean to say the line officers would go into 
the staff? 

General Elliott. A great many of them would. 

Colonel Denny. It is the only way they can get into the staff, by 
transfer from the line. 

The Chairman. Are there individuals who prefer to go into the 
staff ? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir; they like it. 

The Chairman. Shore duty ? 

General Elliott. They go with the troops to the Philippines. 

The Chairman. Why should they prefer this duty? 

General Elliott. Some men prefer that duty. They like build- 
ings, looking after clothing, etc. It is a promotion in a certain way, 
and then they do not have the night duty. There are a great many 
other things. Some prefer that duty to commanding men. 

Colonel Goodloe. There are men not physically constituted to 
enjoy life on the ocean. Some of them are subject to seasickness. 

Colonel Denny. I think the broader reason is that some men are 
business men and some military men. The military men serve with 
the troops and the business men in the staff. The staff has to do with 
the business and not so much the military. 

The Chairman. Are they reducing the number of marines on the 
ships ? 

General Elliott. No, sir. 

The Chairman. Do you feel as though you really needed the addi¬ 
tional staff officers? 

General Elliott. Yes. It gives promotion to the line and pre¬ 
vents the staff from drawing on the line to perform those duties. 

The Chairman. Irrespective of promotion, the question is whether 
you need them. 

General Elliott. We do need them. 

Colonel Denny. It seems to me, in addition to what the General 
has said in relation to promotions, and more important than that, is 
the matter of efficiency, and solely I would put it on that ground, but 
incidentally and in addition comes the question of promotion. The 
experience of four or five years has shown, since the passage of the 
personnel act, that by having regular officers in the Pay Department, 
the Adjutant-Inspector’s Department, and the Quartermaster’s De¬ 
partment, more especially in the Pay and Quartermaster’s Depart¬ 
ment, there has been a considerable economy in the expenditure of 
money, for the reason that you have experienced men first to advertise 
for bids and then to open bids and to make agreements and contracts, 
to inspect buildings under agreements and contracts, and generally 
to look out for stores, supplies, and equipments. The whole effect is 
greater efficiency in administration, also economy in expenditures. 
The same rule applies to the military which holds in civil life; that is, 
that when special work is to be done an expert therein is selected to 
do the work, not a man who is inexperienced and more or less 
inefficient. 

Officers in my department to be valuable must be men not only of 
high character and physically sound for field service, but be specially 


204 


trained to procure, preserve, and issue all material used by the corps, 
such as public buildings, clothing, rations, arms, ammunition, trans¬ 
portation, forage, fuel, etc. They disburse the money provided by 
Congress for the corps, except that for pay. 

To-dav we only have 12 regular quartermasters and 8 or 9 acting 
quartermasters. The latter are detailed from the line. The result 
is a hardship for the line and less efficiency for the staff. 

General Elliott. Then he is easily checked because he is bonded. 

Colonel Denny. If he should make a mistake and any expenditure 
was contrary to law and not in conformity with the rules of the 
accounting officers of the Treasury, he is pecuniarily responsible. 
He gives a bond, and if he fails to make good, his bondsmen must. 
The line officers who are temporarily detailed to this duty are not 
required to give bond. 

The Chairman. I understand, in the first place, that your organi¬ 
zation is a military organization, and assimilated to the Army? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. That is, it is really a sailor and soldier organiza¬ 
tion, so to speak? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. I wish you would put in the hearing a compara¬ 
tive statement of the Army and Marine Corps. 

General Elliott. There is one other thing. We need these men 
for the reason that by July 1, 1908, the Navy will be increased by 15 
large vessels, and we need these men now to prepare them, enlist them, 
so they shall be ready for duty with the new vessels. We can not 
get them offhand. It is hard work recruiting, especially when the 
times are so flush, and it will take 900 men to equip those 15 ships. 

The Chairman. Now, passing on to the next item, “ Pay of officers, 
prescribed by law, on the retired list,” $115,000. That is the same as 
last year. You figure that all out in accordance with the number 
and rank of those on the retired list ? 

Colonel Goodloe. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is u For pay of noncommissioned 
officers,” etc., $1,883,555.20. That is‘the same as last year? 

Colonel Goodloe. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Then there is the language— 

Provided , That hereafter privates regularly detailed and serving as cooks, 
shall receive, in addition to the pay otherwise allowed by law, the following: 
First-class cooks, thirty-two dollars per month; second-class cooks, twenty-two 
dollars; third-class cooks, seventeen dollars; and fourth-class cooks, twelve 
dollars. 

Please explain the necessity of that. 

General Elliott. In the old days we used to get cooks that had 
been to sea a good deal and knew how to cook. The class of men 
coming in to-dav we can not find among them a man who knows how 
to cook who will do the work for the private’s pay. We have the 
ration issued, but unless it is cooked well, why the men become 
dissatisfied. 

The Chairman. What do you have, the army or the navy ration? 

General Elliott. The army ration. These cooks are up every 
morning by 3 o clock and they work until after supper in the evening. 

The Chairman. What does a first-class cook get ? 

General Elliott. A privite’s pay. 


205 


The Chairman. What does that amount to? 

General Elliott. Thirteen dollars. If he is an old man he may 
get $15 or $16. 

The Chairman. Take a man who would go upon the list as a first- 
class cook, what would he get? I suppose some of your men would 
become first-class cooks under this provision? 

General Elliott. We give them no rank, but wish to give them 
more pay for hard work. 

The Chairman. What do they get now, the highest paid cook in 
the service? 

General Elliott. They get the regular pay and then they get $10 
a month. That is made up to them. 

The Chairman. That is $23? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. What does the second-class cook get? 

General Elliott. The pay will not average over $15. 

The Chairman. What they get is $13 ? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir; if they have been four years in the 
service they get $15 during the fourth year. 

The Chairman. Would they not get a regular increase on reenlist¬ 
ment? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. How much would that amount to? 

General Elliott. After serving two years they get $1. They get 
$15 at the end of the enlistment. They begin a second enlistment on 
$16, and the second year after reenlistment they get $18, and it can 
run up to $21. That is the highest pay. 

The Chairman. What do the army cooks get? 

General Elliott. By special acts of Congress dated July 7, 1898, 
and March 2, 1899, the Secretary of War is authorized and directed 
to cause to be enlisted in each company two cooks, who shall have the 
pay and allowances of sergeants of infantry (that is, $18 a month 
during the first two years of enlistment, with the usual increase for 
continuous service). The Army Regulations provide for the pay¬ 
ment of 25 cents a day to cooks in addition to the above. 

These acts do not apply to the Marine Corps, because they do not 
come under the law establishing the pay of the Army, they having 
been enacted to enable the Secretary of War to meet special require¬ 
ments. 

When 4 army companies, or about 260 men (the strength of an 
army company being about 65 men), are assembled at a post, they 
are allowed 2 cooks to each company, or a total of 8 cooks to 260 men. 
The pay of a cook in the Army being about $25 a month, the cost of 
8 cooks" for 260 men is about $200 a month. In the Marine Corps 
there are only 4 cooks to a post with a strength of 400 men. If the 
strength of a post is less than 400 men, the number of cooks is less. 
Hence the pay of cooks for 400 men in the Marine Corps would be 
but $135 a month, whereas the pay of cooks for 260 men in the Army 
is $200 a month. 

It is not desired to give the proposed cooks in the Marine Corps 
any rank, but merely to give them such extra compensation, in addi¬ 
tion to their regular pay as privates, as will be commensurate with 
the work which they are required to perform. 


206 


The Marine Corps ration, if properly cooked by experienced men, 
is palatable and sufficient. At present there is considerable waste, 
which is due to inexperienced cooks, and this waste it is hoped to 
prevent by giving them extra compensation. We ask Congress for 
no extra appropriation to pay our cooks, provided, as requested, the 
amounts paid to them in addition to their regular pay as privates 
may be deducted from the appropriation ” Provisions, Marine Corps.” 
These amounts we can save by employing trained men as cooks. 

[Note. —Answering the question of the chairman of the committee, “Whs*.; 
do the army cooks get?” General Elliott stated before the committee that they 
did not get any specified pay, but that, in effect, they were on the same basis 
as the cooks iii the Marine Corps. Since receiving this statement for correc¬ 
tion it develops that army cooks are paid as above stated.] 

The Chairman. There is no appropriation provided here for these 
cooks ? 

General Elliott. We have money enough. We could pay it out 
of the rations. We save enough and turn in enough money every 
year to pay the cooks. 

Mr. Ivitchin. I notice that you put down the fourth-class cooks 
at $12. Do any of your cooks receive as little as $12 now ? 

General Elliott. This is an increase. They get the regular pay 
of a soldier now. If a man is on his first enlistment he gets $13, and 
we have asked to give him $12 additional. 

Mr. Kitchin. This $32, $22, $17, and $12 is additional to their 
pay ? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. They are the hardest worked men in 
the service. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

For the pay as prescribed by law for the following additional men here 
authorized: Two sergeants-major, twenty-five quartermaster-sergeants, thirty- 
nine gunnery-sergeants, ninety-four sergeants, one hundred and sixty-nine cor¬ 
porals, twenty-five drummers, twenty-five trumpeters, and one thousand six 
hundred and thirty-three privates, three hundred and forty thousand six 
hundred and sixty-eight dollars. 

What is the necessity for these additional officers and men? 

General Elliott. We are unable to do the work required of us 
now, and when the 15 new ships come out we will send 900 or 1,000 
marines on board those ships. Our men are doing day on and day 
off and not filling all the posts required. At present we have only 26 
marines at Annapolis. 

The Chairman. Will you kindly furnish a statement showing 
where the men are at the present time? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. And how many there are on board the ships and 
on what ships they are? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ Pay and allowance of retired 
enlisted men,” $67,422. I suppose that has been figured out ? 

Colonel Goodloe. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is “Undrawn clothing: For pay¬ 
ment to discharged soldiers for clothing undrawn,” $93,569.98. 
There is an increase of about $16,000. Why is that necessary? 

Colonel Goodloe. It amounts to fully that much, and of course 
this is an appropriation in which if the number of men discharged 


207 


with the clothing allowance does not amount to that amount, of 
course that money is not paid out, but the large number of discharges 
necessitates an increase for the clothing allowance, and that really 
is a very low estimate to pay men for clothing upon discharge from 
the service. 

Colonel Denny. If the clothing is not issued to them and the 
money is, we have the clothing on hand. So it is as broad as it is 
long. They either get the money or the clothing. 

The Chairman. They are entitled to how much—each man? 

Colonel Denny. About $07 a year. 

The Chairman. Equivalent to how many suits? 

Colonel Denny. It is divided up. A fixed number of garments 
per man per year. The allowance is prescribed annually in an order 
issued by the Secretary of the Navy. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “Mileage: For mileage to offi¬ 
cers traveling under orders without troops, $40,000.” That is an 
increase of $10,000. You get army mileage? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Seven cents? 

General Elliott. Eight cents.. 

Colonel Denny. We get the navy mileage, 8 cents, by law. 

The Chairman. You have to look out for your own baggage? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The army mileage is 7 cents, with additional for 
baggage ? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Is it practically the same thing? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Some of the army people claim that you get the 
best of it. 

Colonel Denny. I do not think so. They used to get 4 cents a 
mile and now they get 7 cents and the transportation of baggage. 

Colonel Goodloe. That was brought about some time ago, when 
the officers were traveling in the Indian country. 

The Chairman. What I want to get at is whether the transporta¬ 
tion amounts to any more than 1 cent a mile? 

Colonel Denny. A captain would be allowed about 1,800 pounds 
of baggage. If you transport that from New York to San Francisco 
you can see what that would be, and in an emergency it would be sent 
by express. 

The Chairman. What is allowed a private? 

Colonel Denny. He takes his on his back. A private gets only 
his actual transportation. 

The Chairman. You think it amounts to the same? 

Colonel Denny. I think the Army has a little the better of it. 

General Elliott. They have to go through some business trans¬ 
action, which is annoying, because they have the bonded roads. That 
gives them a good deal of trouble. We have nothing to do with the 
bonded roads. 

Mr. Kitchin. There is an increase of $10,000 I notice in this item 
of mileage to officers. Was there any deficiency in that item last 
vear? I suppose there was no deficiency, but was it sufficient? 

Colonel Goodloe. The $30,000 was exceeded. 

General Elliott. There is another thing. We have to go West 


208 


recruiting a good deal for our men, and it keeps us running mighty 
close to make both ends meet. The Comptroller has decided that if 
a man enters the service as a second lieutenant he shall be given mile¬ 
age from his home to the station to which ordered. They did not do 
that formerly. That would be the mileage of forty-one officers from 
their homes to their first station. 

The Chairman. Is the main reason for asking for this increase due 
to the expectation of increasing the number of officers ? 

General Elliott. No; that is but one item—a new one. 

The Chairman. Would you get these additional officers from the 
Naval Academy? 

General Elliott. No, sir; they come from civil life. The Naval 
Academy could not furnish them. They have hard work to furnish 
their own. 

The Chairman. Do they come from the ranks ? 

General Elliott. We have been very fair, and we have 22 officers 
from the ranks. Some of the best duty officers we have are from the 
ranks. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

For commutation of quarters of officers on duty without troops where there 
are no public quarters, twenty thousand dollars. 

There is an increase of $5,000. 

Colonel Goodloe. That increase has been necessitated by the fact 
that so many officers are going on duty of recruiting. That has 
increased it. Of course they must have provision made for them 
while they are on this duty in different portions of the United States. 
Of course where they are serving with troops it is commutation of 
quarters. If an officer serves with troops and there are no quarters 
then he receives the hire of quarters. 

The Chairman. Is that so in the Army? 

Colonel Denny. It is the Army law. 

The Chairman. There was a question that came up in regard to 
the naval bill, and the Senate put on a provision giving to naval 
officers commutation of quarters where they were serving without 
troops. I think the words u withmit troops ” were used. 

Colonel Goodloe. It is just the same as the Marine Corps. 

The Chairman. And the chairman of the Committee on Military 
Affairs, Mr. Hull, said that if they got that they would get some¬ 
thing that the Army was not getting. 

Colonel Denny. I remember that discussion very well. 

The Chairman. And I want to know just what the fact is. 

Colonel Goodloe. We got it from the Army. That is the army law 
and regulation. Then the Navy gets that from the Marine Corps. 

Colonel Denny. The fact is that if an officer is serving with troops 
where there are no public quarters under the law he gets an allow¬ 
ance for hire of quarters. In other words, the Quartermaster’s De¬ 
partment actually hires quarters for him and pays for the hire and 
the officer lives in those outside quarters. If he is serving at places 
such as the iSavv Department, the War Department, or the head¬ 
quarters of the Marine Corps, where there are no troops, he gets 
commutation of quarters at $12 per month per room. Officers of 
various grades are allowed so many rooms per month, and that 
number multiplied by $12 shows the amount he gets for commuta¬ 
tion of quarters. 


209 


The Chairman. The next item is u Pay of civil force: In the 
office of the Brigadier-General Commandant," and yon are asking for 
the increase of the salary of the chief clerk from $1,600 to $1,700. 
Is that an old clerk? 

Colonel Goodloe. Yes, sir. The Secretary increased his pay $100. 

General Elliott. This clerk has been in the service ten years and 
is under 36 years of age. 

The Chairman. The next item is the office of the assistant pay¬ 
master, San Francisco, Cal. 


V 


Colonel Goodloe. There is one clerk there. 

The Chairman. You want the words “ San Francisco, California, 
to be inserted in that paragraph? 

Colonel Goodloe. I have never seen the necessity of that. 

General Elliott. It makes it so that we never can change the 
clerks. It is a good thing sometimes to change them. We have a 
man in the Philippine Islands who has been serving five years and 
we can not get him away. 

The Chairman. In the office of the assistant paymaster, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C., you are asking for one clerk at $1,300. Have you not any 
clerk here? 


Colonel Goodloe. Xo, sir. The assistant paymaster has not had 
a clerk since he has been here. 

General Elliott. He has been doing all his own work, and besides 
has a lot of money that he is responsible for, and I think he should 
have a clerk—some man he can trust. 

The Chairman. Who does the work now—an enlisted man detailed ? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. Lieutenant-Colonel Richards works 
hard. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is it contemplated to keep that man here and put 
him up to $1,300 or to get some other man for that place? 

General Elliott. Thev will probably get some civil-service clerk. 

Mr. Kit chin. Is there no way of making this man who is now per¬ 
forming the duties the clerk? 

Colonel Denny. Xo, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. It looks to me, if we are going to authorize the pay, 
the present man should have it. 

Colonel Goodloe. In a case of that kind it would be necessary for 
an enlisted man to be discharged and after qualifying under the 
civil-service law to be appointed just as any other person. 

General Elliott. If Lieutenant-Colonel Richards wants this man 
he will try to get it done by the Secretary. 

The Chairman. In the office of the adjutant and inspector you are 
asking for the increase of the salary of the chief clerk from $1,600 
to $1,700, and in the office of the quartermaster the same. 

Colonel Goodloe. Yes, sir; that is just the same as the other—just 
a hundred-dollar increase. 

The Chairman. There is no other change until we get down to the 
item— 


For interest on soldiers’ deposits, four thousand dollars, and so much as may 
be necessary to refund such deposits; and the money herein specifically appro¬ 
priated for the pay of the Marine Corps shall he disbursed and accounted for 
in accordance with existing law as pay of the Marine Corps, and for that pur¬ 
pose shall constitute one fund. 


14 


x p—07 



210 


How many deposits have you under the law passed last year? 

Colonel Goodloe. There are ho deposits at all as yet. 

The Chairman. What interest do you pay, 3 per cent ? 

Colonel Goodloe. Four per cent. Just as soon as the stationery 
blanks and everything of that sort are furnished by the Public Printer 
these deposits will be received and accounts will be opened, but of 
course all that matter has to go through the Department and the 
Comptroller, and up to this time nothing has come back to me for the 
purpose of commencing and opening this banking system, to enable 
the enlisted men to make deposits and receive interest. We expect to 
do that very soon, but up to this time no action whatever has been 
taken, because we got nothing from the Department to authorize the 
printing. 

The Chairman. Is this law the same as the army law ? 

General Elliott. Just exactly. 

Colonel Goodloe. We framed it from both the army and navy laws. 

General Elliott. If they had put “ the Marine Corps ” in the 
law T it would have been the same thing. 

The Chairman. This item says, “ For interest on soldiers’ de¬ 
posits.” You call your men soldiers? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “ In all, pay Marine Corps, 
three million two hundred and sixty-eight thousand nine hundred 
and eighty-six dollars and forty-six cents.” The increase is made 
up largely by the two items, as I recall ? 

Colonel Goodloe. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. First, the increase in the number of officers of 
the staff, $76,000, and then the increase in the privates, $340,000? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

Colonel Goodloe. I presume you will embody that section which 
makes the whole appropriation one sum, as appears in the estimate? 

Colonel Denny. That is in italics as if it is new law. That is 
existing law. 

The Chairman. You have it right in the paragraph above, “ In 
all, for pay of civil force.” 

Colonel Goodloe. In regard to one other item. Of course, you 
are familiar with the law that gives the President the right to ap¬ 
point officers on the retired list one additional grade for war services? 

The Chairman. Yes, sir. 

Colonel Goodloe. There was a number of names sent to the Senate 
and confirmed, and it is not specially mentioned in any of these 
estimates of appropriation ? 

The Chairman. I understand. 

Colonel Goodloe. I have a list which I would like to submit for 
your consideration. 

The list submitted by Colonel Goodloe follows: 




211 


Additional pay for retired officers. 


Name. 

Former rank. 

Present rank. 

Increase 
in pay. 

Advance one grade. 

R. L. Meade. 

Colonel.... 


8750.00 
750.00 
375.00 
375.00 
735.00 
735.00 
735.00 
105.00 

W. S. Muse. 



A. S. Nicholson .. 

Major. 


E. R. Robinson ... 



F. H. Corrie. 

Captain. 

Major 

F. D. \\ ebster. 


<io 

A.S. Taylor. 



E. R. Miller. 

Second lieutenant 

Fi r<*t lipiitprmnt 

Added to retired list. 

J. W. McClaskev. 

First lieutenant 

First lipiitpmint 

4,560.00 

721.87 

291.67 
210.00 

Placed on active duty. 

B. R. Russell. 

Lieutenant-colon pi 


F. A. Udell. 

First’ lieutenant 

First lipntprmnt 

Total increase . 



5,783.54 

_ 





for that ? 

Colonel Denny. That is to provide provisions for the proposed 
increase of 2,012 men in the Marine Corps. If that increase in men 
is not allowed, no increase in money will be required. 

The Chairman. How much do you figure per man? 

Colonel Denny. It is rather a difficult thing to do. but I can submit 
a table showing the cost of rations at all stations in the Marine Corps. 
We do that by dividing by the number of stations, which gives the 
average cost, and multiplying that by the per capita. 

The Chairman. I wish you would furnish that table. 

General Elliott. We feed our men for 20 cents or less a day. 
There are a few posts where it is higher. That is the reason we 
want the cooks to properly cook the food, and there should be no 
loss. 


Memorandum of ration contracts. Quartermaster's Department, United States 
Marine Corps, fiscal year ending June 30, 1907. 


Post. 

Rate per 
hundred. 

Post. 

Rate per 
hundred. 

Portsmouth, N. H. 

816.73 

San Juan, P. R. 

828. 75 

Boston, Mass. 

15. 75 

Key West, Fla. 

34.50 

Newport, R. 1. 

21.00 

Pensacola, Fla.. 

22.20 

Iona Island, N. Y. 

35.50 

New Orleans, La. 

22.00 

New York N. Y. 

17.22 

Sitka, Alaska. 

34.00 

Lea.gnp Island, Pa. 

18.75 

Bremerton, Wash. 

19.70 

Anna.polis Md . 

21.75 

Mare Island, Cal. 

15.15 

Washington I) C . 

17.23 

San Francisco, Cal. 

15.35 

Navv-vard Washington T). C. 

17.23 

Honolulu, Hawaii. 

20.13 

Nnrfnl lr Va 

15.85 



Charleston SC . 

29.00 

Total. 

460. 29 

Port. Royal SC. . 

22.50 

Average cost per 100 rations. 

21.44 






The Chairman. The next item is, “Clothing, Marine Corps: For 
noncommissioned officers, musicians, and privates authorized by 
law, $725,920.'’ 
























































































212 


Colonel Denny. There is an increase proposed of $160,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. That includes the musicians and privates? 

Colonel Denny. It is all for men. The officers buy their own 
clothing. 

The Chairman. That increase of appropriation comes from the 
increase in the number of men? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. If you do not have the increase in the number of 
men, you would not need it ? 

Colonel Denny. Not entirely. The sum of $135,000 is required for 
the 2,012 men, the basis being about $67 per man for clothing for a 
year, and the difference between that and $160,000, $25,000, is recom¬ 
mended on account of the increase in the cost of labor and material, 
which is based upon bids received last July and again in October of 
this year. 

Mr. Kitchin. What is the rate of increase ? 

Colonel Denny. It varies very much, depending upon the character 
of the material. Cotton, for instance, I should think, from 12 to 15 
per cent; wool, from 20 to 25 per cent. It depends upon the char¬ 
acter of the material. Leather has increased very greatty. It is 
used in the shoes. Rubber goods have increased very materially. I 
can give you a table if you so desire. 

Mr. Kitchin. I wish you would supply that data. 

[Colonel Denny furnished the following data:] 


Statement of articles of clothing issued to enlisted men of the United States 

Marine Corps. 


Aiguillettes, gold. 

Blanket, woolen. 

Caps: 

Full dress. 

Full dress, band. 

Muskrat. 

Undress. 

Undress, band. 

Cover for. 

Ornament for. 

Chevrons, field, set: 

Sergeant-major. 

Quartermaster-sergeant. 

Drum major. 

First sergeant. 

Gunnery sergeant. 

Sergeant. 

Corporal. 

Chevrons, gold, set: 

Second leader of band. 

Drum major. 

Chevrons, silk, set: 

Sergeant-major. 

Quartermaster-sergeant. 

Drum major. 

First sergeant. 

Gunnery sergeant. 

Sergeant. 

Corporal. 

Clothing requisition and receipt book. 


Coats: 

Field. 

Full dress. 

Full dress, band. 

Full dress, second leader of band. 
Full dress, drum major. 

Full dress, field music. 

Overcoat. 

Summer. 

Undress. 

Drawers: 

HeaA r y- 

Light. 

Nainsook. 

Gloves, pair: 

Cotton. 

Woolen. 

Hats: 

Field. 

Figure for. 

Letter for. 

Ornament for. 

Helmet, white: 

Base for. 

Spike for. 

Insignia: 

First-class gun pointer. 
Second-class gun pointer. 

Leggings, pair. 


213 


Lyres: 

Gold. 

White metal. 

Shirts: 

Flannel, olive-drab. 

Under, cotton. 

Under, heavy. 

Under, light. 

Shoes: 

Arctic. 

Leather, black. 

Leather, russet. 

Shoulder knots: 

Gold, pair. 

White, with aiguillettes, pair. 


Socks: 

Cotton. 

Woolen, heavy. 

Woolen, light. 

Stripes: 

Noncommissioned officer. 
Service. 

Suspenders. 

Trousers: 

Dress, band. 

Dress, field music. 

Dress, noncommissioned officer. 
Dress, private. 

Field. 

Summer. 

Belt, tan, for. 


Table specifying the allowance of clothing to enlisted men of the United States 
Marine Corps, apportioned to each year of enlistment. 


Articles. 

Year. 

First. 

Second. 

Third. 

Fourth. 

Fifth. 

Total. 

Aiguillettes, band. 

1 





1 

Blankets, woolen. 

2 





2 

Cap, full-dress. 

1 





1 

Caps, undress. 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

Cap covers, linen. 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

Cap ornaments. 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

Coat, full-dress. 

1 





1 

Coats: 







Undress, lined or unlined. 

2 

1 

2 

1 


6 

Summer . 

2 

1 


1 


4 

Field. 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

7 

Chevrons: 







Field, sets. 

4 

3 

1 

2 

1 

11 

Col d sets . 

1 





1 

Silk, sets. 

4 

1 

2 

1 


8 

Drawers: 







Light. 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

10 

Heavy. 

2 

2 

2 

* 

2 

10 

Gloves, cotton. 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

40 

Hats, field. 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

Hat ornaments. 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

TTplrnpt whitp eomplete. 

1 





1 

Leggins. 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

8 

Letters and figures for field hats, each... 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

Oyprpnftt . 

1 





1 

Shirts: 







Flannel. 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

10 

Under, light... 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

10 

Under, heavy. 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

10 

Shoes, black or russet leather. 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

15 

ppnnlfipf Irnnts pair 

1 





1 

Socks: 







Cotton, pairs, light or heavy. 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

20 

Woolen, pairs, light or heavy. 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

20 

Suspenders. 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

Trousers: 







Dress n ... 

1 


1 


1 

3 

Dress! noncommissioned officer. 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

7 

Dress, field music. 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

7 

Dress, privates. 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

7 

Summer. 

3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

7 

Field. 

2 

2 

1 

1 

1 

7 


The allowances for men enlisted for four years are those stated in columns first, 
second, third, and fourth in the above table. 











































































214 


Comparative statement showing unit price of material used in clothing enlisted 

men of the Marine Corps. 


Material. 


Kersey, sky blue. 

Coat cloth," dark blue. 

Scarlet cloth. 

Scarlet flannel. 

Jacket flannel, dark blue. 

Shirting flannel.. 

White linen, grass bleached.. 

White wadding. 

Cotton drilling, unbleached. 

Muslin, unbleached. 

Drab lining jeans. 

Black padding.... 

Black silesia . 

Black Italian cloth. 

Stiff canvas. 

Light canvas. 

Tape, khaki color. 

Khaki suiting... 

Yellow silk lace. 

Pieces leather, black pebble-grain morocco 

Hooks and eyes, large, for overcoat. 

Hooks and eyes, small. 

Button, gilt, coat: 

Large, 35-ligne. 

Medium, 30-ligne. 

Small, 25-ligne. 

Button, bronze, coat: 

Large, 30-ligne. 

Small, 25-ligne. 

Button, trouser, anchor: 

Large. 

Small... 

Button, white bone, A: 

27-ligne. 

22-ligne. 

Button, brass: 

Suspender. 

Fly. 

Button, shirt, olive-drab. 

Button rings. 

Trouser buckles. 

Sewing silk (750-yard spools) . 

Buttonhole twist (10-yard quills). 

Basting cotton (200-yard spools). 

Trouser clasps, brass. 

Linen thread: 

No. 35. 

1-ounce, No. 70. 

Sewing cotton: 

Nos. 30 and 40, 200-yard spools. 

No. 60, 200-yard spools. 

Woolen blankets. 

Rubber boots... 

Rubber coats. 

Rubber ponchos. 

Rubber hats. 

Shoulder knots. 

Undress caps. 

Undress caps for band. 

Full dress caps. 

Full dress caps for band. 

Muskrat caps. 

White cap covers.. 

Gunnery sergeant’s field chevrons.. 

Sergeant’s field chevrons. 

Corporal’s field chevrons. 

Sergeant-major’s field chevrons. 

Quartermaster-sergeant’s field chevrons ... 

First sergeant’s field chevrons. 

Cap ornaments. 

Leggins.. 

Woolen socks. 

Cotton socks: 

Heavy weight.'.. 

Light weight... 

Woolen gloves. 

White cotton gloves. 

Field hats. 

Drawers, heavy-weight. 

Undershirts, heavy-weight. 

Drawers, light-weight. 

Undershirts, light-weight. 


per 


.per yard.. 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

dozen sheets.. 

_per yard.. 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do— 

.do_ 

.do— 

.do- 

.do— 

.do_ 

.do— 

...per dozen.. 

_per gross.. 

.do_ 


[ Fiscal 
year 1906. y 


SI. 82 
1.95 
2.62 
.84 
1.16 
.92 
.40£ 
.3397 
.0661 
.05 

. 06625 
.0748 
.0837 
. 3563 
.12 
.1073 
.0045 
. 225 
.105 
.20 
.36 
.135 


Fiscal 
ear 1907. 


*1.81* 
1.94i 
2.59s 
.87 
1.22 
1.11 
. 4445 
.3397 
.0748 
. 0519 
. 0693 
.0784 
.0874 
.355 
. 1245 
. 1278 
.006 
.24 
.1025 
.24 
.32 
. 2075 


do.... 

do.... 

do.... 


2.60 

2.25 

1.40 


2.60 

2.25 

1.40 


do 

do 


2.25 
1.40 


do.... 
do_ 


.3221 

2.85 


do.125 

do.115 


. 2995 
. 2824 

.14 

.125 


.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do.... 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do— 


per pound.. 
..per gross.. 


.056 
.0515 
.28875 
.0513 
.78 
46.70 
1.90 
1.59 
.31 

1.14 
19. 35 


.do_ 

.do_ 

.each.. 

.per~pair.. 

.each.. 

..do_ 

..do_ 

.per pair.. 

.each.. 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do— 

.do_ 

.per set.. 

.do_ 

.do— 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do — 

.each.. 

.per pair.. 

per dozen pairs.. 


3.90 


3.97 
2.28 
3.35 
2. 79 
.264 


.87 

.98 

1.42 

1.75 

1.43 
.1187 
.93 
.20 
.1598 
.35 
.32 
.2898 
.C7J 
.389 

4.11 


. 0624 
.054 
.31 
.05 
.78 
49.16 
1.95 
1.99 
. 30s 

1.14 
19.35 


4.54 
4.54 
4.28 
2.19 
3.45 


. 28i 
2. 04 
.835 
.96 


1.88 

.124 

.89 

.18 

.14 


.08125 
.4349 


.do_ 

do_ 

do_ 

do_ 

each.. 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do_ 

.do— 


1.09 

.98 

7.46 

1.41 

1.40 

1.45 

1.45 

.90 

.90 


1.12 


5.50 
1.65 
1.59 
1.65 
1.65 
1.05 
I 1.05 










































































































Comparative statement showing unit price of material used in clothing enlisted men of the 

Marine Corps —Continued. 


Material. 

Fiscal Fiscal 

year 1906. year 1907. 

White helmets. 


$1.48 

$1.48 

Brass spikes for helmets. 


.18 

.18 

2.14 

2.14 

1.92 

.1617 

.34 

! 18 
.18 

2. 88 

2. h65 

2.46 

Brass bases with stars for helmets. 

rln 

Rtl8Set Calf-Skin Shoes. Tw*r r>«ir 

Black ealf-skin shoes. 

Arctic shoes. 


Suspenders. 


! 1644 
.49 

Trouser belts. 



Cotton tape.per yard. 

White cloth.do... 

White lining jeans (bleached). 

Black mohair tubular braid.do. 

Yellow worsted lace.do. 

Lyres .p er pair. 

Nainsook.per yard. 


3.00 
. 0659 
.079 
.25 
.35 
.0853 


.85 

.0046 


The Chairman. The next item is “ Fuel, Marine Corps,” and you 
are asking for $90,000 instead of $70,000. There is an increase of 
$ 20 , 000 . 

Colonel Denny. The increase there is based chiefly on the increase 
in the number of posts to be looked out for under this head. For 
example, the new 7 barracks at New 7 Orleans, at Norfolk, at the train¬ 
ing station at San Francisco, and at Olongapo will be completed be¬ 
fore the end of this fiscal year. So that during the next fiscal year 
an additonal supply of fuel for those four posts will be necessary. 
In addition to that, part of the station at New London has been 
transferred to the Marine Corps, and under the authorization of 
Congress we are improving the buildings there for enlisted men, and 
we are asking in our estimate for the next year further appropriation 
from Congress for additional buildings. So that station, added to 
the other four stations, will require for maintenance for the enlisted 
men $20,000 under the head of “ Fuel.” 

The Chairman. What are you doing at New London, training the 
men and officers? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

General Elliott. We are putting some student officers there. The 
student officers in Annapolis are living in establishments divided off 
by a canvas, from six to ten in a room—no privacy—living more like 
enlisted men than officers. 

The Chairman. How many men have you there now ? 

Colonel Dennys The building is not done, and will not be done 
until earlv spring, so we are not keeping any force there at present. 

In relation to this increase of $20,000 for fuel, $10,000 is proposed 
for the additional men we are asking for. 

The Chairman. Under the item “ Military stores, Marine Corps,” 
you increase the pay of the chief armorer from $3 to $4.50 per day ? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; w T e had that subject before you last 
year. Those who are affected by this proposed increase are the men 
w T ho have served with us a long while and are most efficient and 
faithful, and they are getting pay now that is much below the pay 
they would get outside, and we believe that they ought to have at 
least $1 increase in pay per day. They are hard-working men; 
efficient men and faithful men. 


































216 


The Chairman. Then there is an increase in military stores of 
$75,000. Why is that necessary? How much of that amount is for 
the increase in the number of men ? 

Colonel Denny. About $50,000 is for additional arms, ammuni¬ 
tion, and various supplies purchased under the head of “ Military 
stores.” With the balance it is proposed, among other things, based 
upon practical experience, to purchase strips of land for target 
ranges. We now rent target ranges, and the leases in such cases are 
often broken by the owner of the property wanting the land for sale. 

The Chairman. Do you own any rifle ranges now ? 

Colonel Denny. None, except at the regular naval stations—for 
instance, at Philadelphia and Olongapo—and wherever the station 
is of sufficient size to permit firing to be carried on with safety; but 
we lease ranges at New York and in the East, and also in the South. 

The Chairman. How much do you have to pay a year? 

Colonel Denny. It depends very much on its nearness to cities. 
In the most remote places, such as at Norfolk, where it is several hours 
from the station—the men have to go down in boats—the rent is 
comparatively low; less than $j)00 a year. If it is near a city the 
rent is very much higher, of course. It is more a question of tenure. 
There is no stability about it now. We may go to the extent of im¬ 
proving a range, putting targets there and some place for the mark¬ 
ers and other fittings for the comfort of the men, and the next year 
the owner may decide to sell or refuse to renew the lease and we have 
lost all those improvements. 

The Chairman. Have you any place in mind that you would like 
to buy? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. There are a number of excellent places 
below Norfolk, down on the river, some inland. This is true at 
practically all our stations. 

The Chairman. How many ranges could you buy for this $25,000? 

Colonel Denny. The idea would be to buy two a year, and in the 
course of six or eight years we would have enough. ' The idea is not 
to ask Congress for much each year, but gradually to get them. 

Mr. Kitchin. Can you tell us about how much the renting of these 
rifle ranges cost last year ? 

Colonel Denny. Not offhand; but I can give you a statement 
showing exactly what it did cost. 

The Chairman. And showing where they were located? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

General Elliott. The law passed Congress last year allowing a 
marksman $1 more a month; if he becomes a sharpshooter he gets $2 
more a month, and if he becomes an expert rifleman—and only a very 
few reach that stage, he gets $3 a month. These men are urging that 
they be allowed an opportunity to go to the rifle range. As it is now, 
there are a great many of them that we can not send to the rifle range— 
the real range. TV e have little auxiliary ranges built in sheds, where 
we shoot the reduced charge and train the men in that way, and while 
it is a great assistance and the men do tolerably well on the ranges 
they have no opportunity to get this extra dollar. The men want 
these ranges themselves in order that they may be put on the same 
footing with the soldiers in the Army, so that they can get this pay. 
As soon as they can qualify they get the money. 


Colonel Denny. As I told you, the proposition is to buy a few 
ranges, one or two each year. Another reason for this increase of 
$25,000 is the increased field service. Our marines are being ordered 
all the time. For instance, there is a floating battalion maintained, 
by the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, especially in the West 
Indies, and also a regiment in Cuba—over a thousand men. The 
number of men in the Philippines has increased from about 900 to 
1,200 men, and the additional cost of supplying ammunition and field 
equipment for these men, serving as I have said, enters into this in¬ 
crease, and the cost of the rifle ranges plus the cost of these military 
supplies required by these men so serving makes just about $25,000. 
I omitted to state that the command at Peking has been increased, and 
therefore the quantity of military supplies kept at that remote sta¬ 
tion is much greater than it used to be. 

Mr. Kitchin. I wish you would put in your testimony a statement 
of the condition at Peking—how many men you have there. 

General Elliott. One hundred and twenty-five men and five offi¬ 
cers. We have to ship everything to them by mail steamer. 

The Chairman. They are right at the legation? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir; in the barracks there. 

Mr. Kitchin. You supply them from here? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. We do not know when they will call 
for an increase; they might do so at any time. 

The Chairman. For “ Transportation and recruiting” there is an 
increase of $80,000. 

Colonel Denny. Fifty thousand dollars of which is to provide 
transportation and recruiting for the proposed enlargement of the 
corps as previously referred to. The balance of the proposed in¬ 
crease, that is, $30,000, is asked for because of very serious trouble 
and material increase in the expense of recruiting. We have recruit¬ 
ing officers now practically all over the country, in the East, Middle 
West, Far West, Northwest, and South; in Mississippi, Tennessee, 
North Carolina, Arkansas; in the West, Iowa, and in the Northwest, 
the Dakotas. 

General Elliott. And in St. Louis, Chicago, and Detroit. 

Colonel Denny. Practically all over the country, and that is made 
necessary because of the great trouble we have in getting recruits. 
The prosperity of the country makes it very difficult to get men. 
They seem to be able to get work in all kinds of labor centers and on 
farms. 

The Chairman. You send out recruiting parties? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. We send out traveling parties that go 
from place to place and we have permanently established offices at 
desirable places. 

General Elliott. St. Louis, Chicago, and St. Paul. 

Mr. Kitchin. How many recruits did you have during the last 
year ? 

General Elliott. We had double discharges last year. We re¬ 
cruited nearly 5,000 men. 

Mr. Kitchin. How many of them were new men? I suppose 
many were reenlistments. 

General Elliott. We had 46 per cent reenlistments. No other 
corps in the service, Army or Navy, has as many reenlistments as we 


:218 


have. Our discharges read “ Bad,” “ Good,” “ Very good,” and “ Ex¬ 
cellent.” We do not allow a man to reenlist unless he has a “ Good,” 
“Very good," or “Excellent” discharge. Last year 4(j per cent of 
those men receiving discharges reenlisted. In time—in a few 
years—that is going' to give us a better corps and stop desertion. 
Desertion is the most expensive thing we have. Every time a man 
deserts we lose $120. 

Mr. Kitchin. So you had about 5,000 new enlistments? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir: but we had double discharges. 

Mf. Kitchin. What percentage of desertions did you have last 
year ? 

General Elliott. It will run up to 13 or 14 per cent—that is, the 
new men. A great many of them become dissatisfied with the service 
and break their oaths and desert, and the trouble is that it is often 
condoned at home. People know that a man has deserted, and they 
do not point their finger at him and say, “ You are a deserter,” but 
condone it entirely. That is the trouble. If we could educate our 
people so that when a man had taken an oath and broken it the 
people at home would say, “ You are a deserter,” we would have very 
little desertion. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is it not a fact that frequently they justify it, not in 
our minds, but to themselves, by saying that there was some misunder¬ 
standing or misrepresentation at the time of the enlistment ? 

General Elliott. They say so, but I do not believe it. 

The Chairman. At what age do you enlist ? 

General Elliott. We could enlist, under the law, at 18 years of 
age, but I will not allow them to take a man under any circumstances 
under 21 years of age. 

The Chairman. Do you make him furnish evidence that he is 21 
years of age? 

General Elliott. No, sir. I have written a letter to all the officers 
saying that if they do not believe a man’s statement and believe him 
to be under 21 years of age, that then they should make him furnish 
testimony, either by some one who looks like a reliable person or by 
letter that he is 21 years of age, but in spite of all that we have a few 
boys whose parents write us that they are under 21 years of age. 

The Chairman. Under the item “ Repairs of barracks, Marine 
Corps,” you are asking for an increase of $12,500. What is the neces¬ 
sity for that increase ? 

Colonel Denny. An increase of $12,500 is recommended. Ten 
thousand dollars is necessar}^ for the numerous repairs and for the 
improvements at stations of the corps such as Boston, Mass.; New¬ 
port, R. I.; San Juan, P. R.; Sitka, Alaska; Cavite, and some at 
Olongapo, where we have old buildings upon which we have not for 
years placed any material repairs or improvements, and these build¬ 
ings are requiring attention in that direction, some of them to a very 
considerable extent, and while the expense in no case is very great, the 
number of stations multiplied by the small amount to be expended on 
each would amount to, we find from surveys and reports from offi¬ 
cers, the sum recommended in the way of an increase. 

The Chairman. The next item is: 

Forage. Marine Corps: For forage in kind for horses of the Quartermaster’s 
Department and the authorized number of officers’ horses, seventeen thousand 
seven hundred dollars. 


219 


That is the same as last year? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; we have not increased the number of 
horses? 

The Chairman. How many horses have you ? 

Colonel Denny. I would have to look up the report of public 
property. 

General Elliott. We have 12 in California. We have a lot of 
horses in Norfolk at the rifle range. The people drive to Williams¬ 
burg for supplies. All field officers, if they own horses, are entitled 
to forage to feed them. At Culebra and San Juan we have a few 
horses for hauling, and we have a few horses here and there. 

Colonel Denny. The Philippines is the greatest place, because there 
we are dependent upon land transportation, except going from Cavite 
to Manila. 

The Chairman. You are entitled to a horse? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. That means major and up? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; and all staff officers. 

The Chairman. For u Hire of quarters, Marine Corps,” you are 
asking an increase of about $10,000? 

Colonel Denny. Fifteen thousand eight hundred dollars, $10,800 
of which is necessary to provide hire of quarters for increase in the 
line officers directed by the commandant of the corps, and for which 
estimates have been put in—15 captains and 15 first lieutenants. 

The Chairman. We have been over that? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. There is inserted in this paragraph as a new item 
the office of the brigade commander in the Philippine Islands. How 
is he provided for now ? 

Colonel Denny. If you will just read that language, omitting the 
letters in italics, it shows that noncommissioned officers and enlisted 
men who may be detailed for extra duty at the places mentioned, the 
offices of the commandant, adjutant and inspector, paymaster and 
quartermaster, and the staff' officers at Philadelphia and in San Fran¬ 
cisco, for instance, men detailed on this duty are entitled to the hire 
of quarters—that is, commutation therefor—if on duty at those 
places, but if on duty in the Philippines in the office of the brigade 
commander or the staff officers there he can not get it. 

Mr. Kitchin. As the law is now he gets no commutation at all ? 

Colonel Denny. That is the point. The men are on the same foot¬ 
ing and should be entitled to the same allowance, and according to 
the rulings of the accounting officers of the Treasury the omission of 
the words “ Philippine Islands ” prevents them from getting it. It 
must be specifically provided for in the act. 

Mr. Kitchin. With this new provision all these enlisted men will 
be on the same footing? 

Colonel Denny. The enlisted men, the same as their comrades at 
other places. 

Mr. Kitchin. This does not provide quarters for officers? 

Colonel Denny. No, sir; just for the enlisted men. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

Contingent, Marine Corps: For freight, tolls, cartage, advertising, etc., 
three hundred and thirty thousand eight hundred dollars. 


220 


There is an increase of $105,000. What is the necessit}^ for that? 

Colonel Denny. Twenty-five thousand dollars of that is intended 
for the furnishing and equipment and other preparation for occu¬ 
pancy by the enlisted men of the new barracks, which have been com¬ 
pleted under the authority of Congress at Norfolk, New Orleans, 
Sail Francisco, and Olongapo in the Philippine Islands. These vari¬ 
ous barracks ought to be completed by the 1st of June next, and the 
custom for years has been to come to Congress shortly before the 
buildings are ready for use and ask for funds with which to buy the 
necessary furniture, bunks, beds, and provide for the water used and 
for the different things at the barracks, gas, electricity, brooms, rugs, 
and everything in the way of housekeeping. You remember I have 
several times referred to that appropriation as the one which relates to 
the domestic administration of the barracks and provides practically 
everything. 

The Chairman. If you have all those things one year you do not 
need to buy them again? 

Colonel Denny. No, sir. 

The Chairman. Could we not reduce the appropriation next year ? 

Colonel Denny. This appropriation is for furnishing new build¬ 
ings which you have authorized. 

The Chairman. I notice that this appropriation increases every 
year. 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. You do not increase one year and then go back to 
the old amount? 

Colonel Denny. We have never asked you for an increase for this 
particular purpose. We have asked for an increase because of an 
increase in the number of enlisted men, which means necessarily an 
increase in the household supplies. There has been a most important 
increase in the cost of those supplies. 

Mr. Kitchin. How much does that increase amount to? 

Colonel Denny. I went over several things in that statement, but 
I can give you a statement showing what the increase has been dur¬ 
ing the year. 

Mr. Kitchin. That leaves $85,000 unaccounted for ? 

Colonel Denny. That would be needed for the proposed increase 
in the enlisted force—2,012 men. 

The Chairman. We will now take up the items under “ Public 
works,” on page 116 of the bill. Last year you had $106,000, and 
this year you are asking for $884,000 ? 

Colonel Denny. Partly upon the suggestion of this committee last 
year when we appeared before it that it was not an opportune time 
then to provide additional public buildings and to submit the esti¬ 
mates to the committee this year and they would probably be favor¬ 
ably considered. 

General Elliott. Mr. Chairman, speaking of it as a whole, I can 
replace every public building, every roof that covers a marine, for 
$1,500,000 now, and we have been living for a good many years. We 
have begged and lived in other people’s quarters, army quarters and 
navy quarters. We have bunked here and there, and you have seen 
yourself how we are bunked in the Philippines. Upon my word, 
our men are hardly decently housed. In Guantanamo they are living 
m a shack constructed of empty 8 and 12 inch shell boxes, which 


they have built themselves, and they are rained on and leaked on, 
and everything else. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “Addition to officers’ quarters, 
marine barracks, navy-yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, twelve 
thousand dollars.” How many officers’ quarters have you there at 
the present time? 

Colonel Denny. Two. 

The Chairman. How many men have you there? 

Colonel Denny. We have three officers. 

General Elliott. We have three officers and five are required. 
There are 86 men at the post and there should be 150 men there. 

The Chairman. How many quarters will this $12,000 give you, one 
house or two houses? 

Colonel Denny. The idea was to build an addition to the present 
junior officers’ building, which is three stories high, and let each floor 
consist of a little apartment of three rooms, parlor, dining room, bed¬ 
room and bath. That would provide accommodations for three addi¬ 
tional young officers. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “ Improving parade ground, 
marine barracks, navy-yard, Boston, Massachusetts, five thousand 
dollars.” Is that right in the navy-yard? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; right in front of the barracks. The 
parade ground is gravel, and it is mud in winter and dust in summer. 
It is very bad. It is bad for the health of the command, on account 
of the dust, the medical officers there have reported. It is bad for 
the storeroom in which the clothing is kept, and it is most uncom¬ 
fortable to both officers and the men. 

The Chairman. How would you improve it? 

Colonel Denny. I suppose the best thing would be to put an 
asphalt or concrete covering over the ground. It is very small and it 
appears from the estimate we have that that can be done with this 
sum of money. 

The Chairman. How large is it; is it an acre? 

Colonel Denny. No, sir. I should think it was 270 by 175 feet. 

General Elliott. It is not over 150 by 270 feet. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

For construction of marine barracks ancl officers’ quarters, naval station, New 
London, Connecticut, to cost one hundred thousand dollars, one hundred thou¬ 
sand dollars. 

General Elliott. We want to build a school there. I would like 
to send all the recruits there. The land was allotted to us by the 
Secretary. From April to November we would put the recruits in 
camps and buildings instead of putting them in navy-vards or to 
have them interfere with the other duties. It would be somewhat 
better to hold them there and drill them in a body and then to dis¬ 
tribute them afterwards. Besides I want a building there for the 
voung student officers. 

The Chairman. You have one or two buildings there now? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir. 

Colonel Denny. AYe are adding an additional story to a one-story 
building now there. 

The Chairman. Is it a brick building? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; we are putting a second story on it. 
That will accommodate between 60 and 75 men. 


222 


The Chairman. How much of this $100,000 would go for the bar¬ 
racks and how much for the officers’ quarters? 

Colonel Denny. General Elliott’s idea is, as I understand it, to 
have quarters for the student officers in the barracks for the men. 
In other words, certain portions of the second floor woidd be parti¬ 
tioned off in small rooms about 12 feet square; not separate build¬ 
ings. There ought to be, I suppose, one cottage for two quarters in 
addition to the one frame cottage that is there now. That is for the 
commanding officer and the instructors. We thought we could build 
a double house and maybe in that one house comfortably accommo¬ 
date as many as four officers. 

The Chairman. How many men do you propose keeping there? 

General Elliott. About 500 or 000 recruits. Use it as a drill 
station and then distribute them. It keeps them out of the big cities 
and keeps them away from New York and Boston. 

Mr. Kitchin. What buildings have you there now? 

General Elliott. An abandoned building built by the Navy. It 
is 182 feet long and 40 feet wide; a single-story building. We are 
going to put a second story to it, raise the roof, and make that into 
barracks of small rooms for student officers. There is one house 
Avhich is given to the commanding officer, and I thought we would 
want about two or three double cottages, small, and of frame con¬ 
struction, for the instructors. 

The Chairman. There is another old building there- 

Colonel Denny. The roof has fallen in. 

The Chairman. Where they used to store boats. 

Colonel Denny. The Navy has that; they did not transfer it. 

The Chairman. The next item is— 

For construction of marine barracks arid officers’ quarters, navy-yard. League 
Island, Pennsylvania, to cost one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. 

What are the present accommodations? 

Colonel Denny. We have one barracks which will accommodate 
about 200 men. 

The Chairman. How much did that cost ? 

Colonel Denny. Exactly $96,000. The appropriation was $100,000. 
That was about six years ago, when the cost of labor and material was 
about 30 per cent less than now. 

The Chairman. How many men have you at League Island ? 

Colonel Denny. From 200 to 220 sometimes. 

General Elliott. Yesterday at League Island we had 258 men. 

The Chairman. Why do you need so many men at League Island? 

General Elliott. We ship them from there. We draw on League 
Island for men for sea. Of course our posts vary. If we need men 
at one post we take them from where we have the greatest number. 
Before the fleet goes south all vacancies in the fleet will be filled up 
from League Island and New York. It is a pretty large navy-yard. 

Colonel Denny. It is one of the principal depots of the Marine 
Corps, where recruits from the central section of Pennsylvania and 
Delaware and the West—Illinois, Ohio, and other places—go for 
training and discipline. They sometimes have as many as 350 men 
when recruiting is active, and that number of men is apt to be greatly 
discomforted if you have them housed in that building, and it is the 
only building in which they can be quartered. It is a place where we 



223 


have a great deal of ground, and in that respect the best we have, 
with the possible exception of Norfolk, where the ground we have 
is even larger. 

General Elliott. But that ground will need a lot of work. 

The Chairman. It is healthy at League Island? 

Colonel Denny. ^ es, sir. It is near our depot of supplies, and 
when ships are fitted out the men can be promptly fitted out from 
the depot, and the cost of transportation is very much less and they 
can get quickly and economically whatever they require. 

The Chairman. The next item is: 

For construction of amusement room for enlisted men, marine barracks, navy- 
yard, League Island, Pennsylvania, fifteen thousand dollars. 

Colonel Denny. That, Mr. Chairman, we think is highly im¬ 
portant to the comfort and contentment of the enlisted men at that 
station. That station is remote from Philadelphia, 4 or 5 miles, 
and the idea is to provide a building there with certain features 
which will attract the men and keep them in garrison where they 
can amuse and interest themselves rather than to go uptown at 
considerable expense to themselves and at more or less danger to 
themselves in the way of getting into trouble, owing to temptations 
which are thrown in their path in the city. 

Mr. Kitchin. In regard to the quartermaster’s depot at Phila¬ 
delphia, how far is this depot from the marine barracks? 

Colonel Denny. About six miles in a straight line up Broad 
street. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is that depot the general depot for the entire corps? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; except the Philippines. 

General Elliott. They make all the clothing there. 

Mr. Kitchin. You want $200,000 for additional ground and for 
the erection of a new building adjoining that depot? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. The present depot, which was com¬ 
pleted three years ago under an appropriation from Congress, has 
been found to be very much too small to hold all of the supplies that 
we have to buy and to issue. At present we are renting a small 
building just beyond there—not fireproof; formerly a cheap brick 
store—and the quartermaster on duty at Philadelphia has reported 
that it is not secure, and in case of fire 'would probably be wiped out, 
which would be most embarrassing, because we would not have an 
appropriation sufficient to replace supplies so lost. We would have 
to come to Congress and get an appropriation, and Congress might 
not be in session at the time, and the result would be very grave. I 
do not know what we would do. Without supplies and money we 
would be helpless. 

Mr. Kitchin. What did the building we have there now cost? 

Colonel Denny. It cost $150,000, which was specifically provided 
by Congress. 

Mr. Kitchin. The land and building? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; and the language was: “ The sum of 
$150,000 shall not be exceeded for this purpose.” 

Mr. Kitchin. How much did the land cost? 

Colonel Denny. The land cost $50,000 and the building $100,000. 

The Chairman. How much land do you want to buy there? 


224 


Colonel Denny. It is 163 feet long and 83 feet wide. It lias been 
offered by the owner at a cost of $53,000, which disinterested real 
estate experts and owners in that section have told us was a fair 
price. 

The Chairman. What do you pay in rent for the additional store 
at the present time ? 

Colonel Denni. I think it is $4,000 a year. 

The Chairman. What is the value of the goods stored there on 
an average? 

Colonel Denny. I would have to refer to the property returns. 
I should think safely $100,000, probably $150,000. 

The Chairman. Clothing? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. At present, Mr. Chairman, it is really 
a very serious embarrassment to us. The depot is piled from the 
floor to the ceiling on every floor, with little gangways 2 feet wide. 

Mr. Kitchin. What would be the disadvantage of having that 
depot down on the League Island grounds where w^e have so much 
land ? 

Colonel Denny. It w r ould involve a material increase in the cost 
of labor, because labor would have to come there and get the different 
articles for manufacture, the manufacture of coats, trousers, over¬ 
coats, and the general articles of uniform. The practice is for op¬ 
eratives to come in daily to the chief cutters and get the material cut 
by the cutters and take them out and make them. That would in¬ 
volve going to the navy-yard and coming back, which w T ould mean 
car fare and the loss of time, which we have not now T under this pres¬ 
ent system. The employment of these operatives is the cheapest in 
the United States. 

Mr. Kitchin. Suppose w 7 e bought the additional land and put a 
building there; Avould it not be just a matter of a few years wdien we 
v r ould again need more room, and would it not be very important to 
locate that building somewhere, if it can be done, where v T e have 
plenty of land to increase the buildings as the needs of the service 
increase? 

Colonel Denny. Well, in answer to that, the proposition here con¬ 
templates the erection of a building five stories high, with walls of 
such thickness that if the requirements do increase—that is really a 
matter for Congress to decide—w T e can put additional stories on this 
building up to ten, w hich would double the capacity of the building. 
In our most enthusiastic dreams w-e have not gone beyond that. 

Mr. Kitchin. We have $150,000 invested there now, and it is pro¬ 
posed to spend $200,000 more. The property we have there could 
probably be sold for $100,000, if it is w T ell located. 

Colonel Denny. I should think that the construction of that build* 
ing on that site has increased the value of the site, and the building 
itself, being a very desirable storehouse, I think it is worth $200,000. 

Mr. Kitchin. The question in my mind w r as whether it w-ould 
not be better to get a better location with more land, since it is as 
certain to grow as any department of this Government, and it seems 
to me you ought to look out for the future. 

Colonel Denny. If you should locate the manufacturing plant of 
the Marine Corps at League Island it Avould be remote from the city, 
remote from the operatives, remote from the place where w r e buy 
supplies, and it would also place the depot in the naval jurisdiction 


225 


instead of having it under the Marine Corps jurisdiction as now. It 
would not be as economical, the work would not be done as expe¬ 
ditiously, and in that connection I want to say that immediately 
across the street from us is the Pennsylvania freight station, so that 
in case of requests by letter or telegram, within an hour after their 
receipt, in an emergency, the material is shipped. 

That is the life of the Marine Corps. The unexpected always 
happens. That is, we get twenty-four hours or thirty-six hours or 
forty-eight hours’ notice to ship a squad or may be a brigade, and 
with this nearness of the depot to the Pennsylvania freight station, 
across the street, we can accomplish those things as we have. Our 
record in that line is remarkable as you, perhaps, know. We can get 
a brigade off in twenty-four hours if the ship is ready to take us. 
That is due to the fact that we can get the supplies across the road 
and in the freight cars and ship them to any place necessary. 

General Elliott. There is another thing. Suppose it is inside a 
navy-yard and your employees are subject to whatever orders the 
commandant may see fit to give, about what hours they can enter and 
leave, and whether they shall be searched by the corporal or sergeant 
of the guard. 

Mr. Kitchin. I can see reasons for its not going into the navy- 
yard, but it seems to me it could be put a little farther from the 
business center of the city. 

Colonel Denny. This is remote from the business center. It is on 
South Broad street on the way to the navy-yard. The only business 
near it is the manufacturing establishment of Wanamaker, directly 
across the street. He has a great warehouse where he manufactures 
a great many things, but it is the only other branch of business in 
that section of Philadelphia. 

Mr. Kitchin. What is the size of the present lot there ? 

Colonel Denny. It is about 80 by 100 feet. 

Mr. Kitchin. This piece of land that you propose to buy will 
really be larger? 

Colonel Denny. It is 163 feet long by the same width. In that 
connection, all this ground would not be built upon. It would not 
be practicable. We must have a yard and some sheds for horses, 
wagons, and carts. The idea was to have an arch between the two 
buildings and a place in the rear for the animals and vehicles to go. 

The Chairman. How many stories is the present building ? 

Colonel Denny. Five stories. 

The Chairman. Is the construction strong enough to build addi¬ 
tional stories? 

Colonel Denny. The walls for the first two stories are 2 feet thick 
and 18 inches thick above. It is of fireproof construction through¬ 
out. There is no plaster on the walls, plain brick walls, with con¬ 
crete floors, supported bv columns of concrete all the way up. 

The Chairman. Could you not add on to the present building? 

Colonel Denny. We could add on to the roof. That, however, was 
calculated by the architects of the present building and that would 
not give us the space we actually require. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ Toward completion of marine 
barracks and officers’ quarters, Washington, District of Columbia, 
fifty thousand dollars.” How much have we already appropriated? 

n p—07-15 


226 


Colonel Denny. Two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. 

The Chairman. And this $50,000 would make $325,000? 

Colonel Denny. That completes the scheme. When we came to 
you about five years ago the idea was, if you remember the matter, 
that we should annually come to Congress for certain appropriations 
to continue the work and not ask for a big sum of money any one 
year. 

The Chairman. How many officers’ quarters have been completed? 

Colonel Denny. None; only buildings for enlisted men have been 
authorized. 

The Chairman. How many will be completed under this appro¬ 
priation ? 

Colonel Denny. One for the commanding officer and three small 
apartments for three other officer^, a total of four. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ For roads, walks, grading, etc., 
Marine Corps, reservation, navy-yard, Norfolk, Virginia, ten thou¬ 
sand dollars.” You have a reservation there, have you? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; the largest in the Marine Corps, about 
31 acres. 

The Chairman. Will it take $10,000 to do this work ? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir; every cent of it. I am afraid more than 
that. That is based upon estimates submitted to us by the command¬ 
ing officer and the civil engineer of the station. There are no roads 
or walks whatever there. It was an old farm, if you remember, and 
the furrows are there to-day as they were when the Government 
bought the property. 

The Chairman. That is down below the navy-yard? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The new tract? 

Colonel Denny. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. The next is, “ For construction of marine barracks 
and officers’ quarters, Charleston, S. C., $50,000.” Have you none 
there now? 

Colonel Denny. We have a little frame shanty, in which one officer 
lives, and we have a frame building that we put up three years ago, 
in which the men live. Both buildings are worth, I should say, about 
$6,000. They were when they were built. They are small and fright¬ 
fully hot in summer. They are simply weatherboards with a shingle 
roof. 

The Chairman. Have you many marines there now ? 

Colonel Denny. No; I think about 50. 

General Elliott. We stripped that post for Cuba. There are 34 
marines there now. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “ For construction of officers’ 
quarters, Navy-Yard, Pensacola, Florida, $15,000.” What is the con¬ 
dition there? 

Colonel Denny. The only quarters we had there were burned. 
They were frame and were a complete loss. 

The Chairman. When were they burned ? 

Colonel Denny., Several years ago. We have not been certain as 
to whether that would be a permanent station until very recently, 
and we are occupying a building that belongs to the construction de¬ 
partment of the Navy, and in one end of that on the second floor is 
where one officer lives. The other officer, or other two officers who 


227 


ought to be there have no quarters at all, and I think at present they 
are living at Pensacola, distant about one hour from the yard. 

The Chairman. What is the situation down at Guantanamo ? 

Colonel Denny. There is a little building there about 20 feet 
square, which is made of shell boxes and clothing boxes nailed to¬ 
gether by the men themselves. It is absolutely disgraceful, and there 
is no comfort or convenience whatever. We have several reports 
from officers who inspected it, and they reported in about the lan¬ 
guage I have used. 

The Chairman. How many men have you there? 

General Elliott. At the present time only about 25, but they have 
been doing light-house duty and signal duty and all that. But, Mr. 
Chairman, they have gone there to stay. That land belongs to the 
Navy. 


Mr. Kitchin. Why do you use the words w temporary marine bar¬ 
racks? ” 

General Elliott. I think that is going to be the great station for 
defending the Panama Canal. It is one of the best harbors in the 
world and will be defended and held. 

Mr. Kitchin. Then ought we not to build a permanent barracks 
there ? 

General Elliott. No, sir; because I do not think the time has come 
yet. This little house will never be abandoned. We will build it 
right on the key where they built the navy-yard. 

Mr. Kitchin. Do you propose building a wooden structure? 

General Elliott. Yes, sir; with a concrete foundation to keep the 
ants from eating it up. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “ For construction of an addition 
to the marine barracks, navy-yard, Bremerton, Wash., $12,000.” 
What is the condition there at the present time? 

Colonel Denny. The barracks are too small to accommodate the 


command, and when the Commandant of the Corps and I inspected 
that station about two years ago we found about 40 or 50 men living 
in tents. That station is growing in importance, and the com¬ 
mandant of the station has repeatedly asked for more men. There 
are some enlistments out there and some of the enlistments made in 
St. Paul, Detroit, and the Northwest generally are sent there. The 
men are put to great discomfort at the present time, and the proposi¬ 
tion here was to add a wing or a story to the present structure and 
increase the comfort of the men. It is a remote station, far from 
Seattle. One gets there by water. More physical comforts would 
greatly add to the men’s contentment. 

The Chairman. The next paragraph simply says “ Toward com¬ 
pletion of officers’ quarters, marine barracks, Bremerton, Wash., 
$10,000.” Are you constructing the barracks? 

Colonel Denny. No, sir. 

The Chairman. How much have you there? 

Colonel Denny. One house. The idea was to build another small 
house and complete the scheme so as to have three officers at that post, 
the commanding officer and two duty officers. 

The Chairman. The next item is, “ For construction of marine bar¬ 
racks and officers’ quarters, navy-yard, Mare Island, California, to 
cost $180,000.” What is the condition there? 


228 


Colonel Denny. It is the same matter that we reported to the com¬ 
mittee last year, that the present barracks was seriously injured by 
the earthquake, and two boards of survey who have reported on the 
subject tell us that it is unsafe and should be abandoned. The com¬ 
mandant of the station, Admiral McCalla, who personally inspected 
the barracks, accompanied by the civil engineer, an expert in con¬ 
struction work, made an indorsement on one of the reports to the 
effect that the building was unfit for habitation and should be aban¬ 
doned for all purposes—should be torn down, as a matter of fact. 

The Chairman. How much of this appropriation will go to bar¬ 
racks and how much to officers’ quarters? 

Colonel Denny. The idea was to build two officers’ quarters and 
to put all the rest into the barracks. 

Mr. Kitchin. What is it estimated the quarters will cost ? 

Colonel Denny. It is a difficult thing to answer that question, 
although our estimate was based upon a report from one of the 
leading architects of San Francisco. The reason why it is difficult 
is the very high cost of labor in that market. It is on an ascending 
scale all the time. For instance, plasterers were getting $8 a day 
and shortly afterwards getting $9 and now we expect it to go up 
to $10, and in this estimate which we submit for the barracks 
especially, which is the main thing out there, more than the officers’ 
quarters, we have considered the fact that the cost of material and 
labor is very high and it will be for many years to come, I dare 
say, with the great quantity of construction work to be done there. 

General Elliott. The idea was to build with hollow concrete 
blocks, it being cheaper than any other way we could build, and un¬ 
less labor stopped us we could put some of our men to help mixing 
the concrete. They could lend a hand. 

Mr. Kitchin. Under the best estimate you have would these 
officers’ quarters cost $20,000 apiece? 

Colonel Denny. No, $24,000; $12,000 each. 

The Chairman. The next item is “ For construction of temporary 
marine barracks and officers’ quarters, improving parade grounds, 
etc., naval station, Cavite, Philippine Islands, $75,000.” Have you 
any there now ? 

Colonel Denny. We have a building which the quartermaster con¬ 
structed out of allotments made to him covering a period of three 
years, about $6,000 a year, about $18,000 to $20,000. If you re¬ 
member your visit there, Mr. Chairman, it is on the stone wall facing 
Manila, not very far from the old magazine. It is a frame building 
entirely. It is substantial in a way and will probably last for six or 
eight years if the ants do not go for the foundation; but that, if you 
remember, is a storehouse and administration building where the 
officers are located and \vhere supplies are kept. We have had to give 
up several buildings within the navy-yard proper, they being required 
by the Navy; for instance, one machine shop, one storehouse for the 
paymaster’s department, and the men that were there have gone to 
Olongapo, and some have been put in quarters which we have rented 
outside the reservation. 

General Elliott. The Surgeon-General came to see me and told 
me that he had inspected Olongapo and the men living in Cavite, and 
the sickness was 12 per cent, where at Olongapo it was only less than 
4 per cent. He recommended that we do something in the way of 


229 


getting these men over to the point where he lias his hospital. There 
are 6,000 people within a space of 600 by 400 yards crowded right 
up against us. 

I he Chairman. That, I think, concludes your estimates. Have 
you anything further that you desire to say to the committee? 

General Elliott. No, sir. I desire to say that we are called upon 
and will be called upon to do more than we have men to fill require¬ 
ments. 

I he Chairman. We are very much obliged to you. 

Thereupon the committee adjourned. 


Statement showing stations of officers and enlisted men of the United States Marine Corps 

in detail. 

STATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. 


Headquarters Marine Corps. 

Assistant quartermaster, Philadelphia, Pa 

Berkeley, Cal. 

Annapolis, Md. 

Boston, Mass. 

Charleston, S. C. 

Iona Island, N. Y. 

Key West, Fla. 

League Island, Pa. 

Mare Island. Cal. 

Narragansett Bay, Newport, R. I. 

Naval Home, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Navy-yard, Washington, D. C. 

New Orleans, La. 

New York, N. Y.. 

Norfolk, Va.... 

Pensacola, Fla. 

Port Royal, S. C. 

Portsmouth. N. H. 

Puget Sound, Wash. 

San Francisco, Cal. 

Sitka, Alaska. 

Washington, D. C. 

Total.. 


Officers. 

Enlisted 

men. 

11 

64 

2 

28 

2 

13 

4 

50 

6 

217 

1 

51 

0 

12 

0 

12 

6 

258 

6 

423 

1 

87 

0 

28 

2 

77 

0 

18 

8 

376 

12 

316 

2 

59 

0 

22 

3 

86 

1 

139 

1 

63 

1 

39 

5 

345 

74 

2, 782 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


District of— 

Buffalo, N. Y. 

1 

12 

Georgia. 

2 

13 

Illinois. 

1 

7 

Iowa. 

1 

18 

Maryland . 

0 

2 

Massachusetts. 

0 

10 

Michigan. 

1 

7 

Minnesota. 

1 

21 

Missouri . 

1 

6 

New York. 

1 

12 

Ohio . 

1 

11 

Pennsylvania, . 

0 

6 


Total . 

10 

125 



RECEIVING SHIPS. 


U S R S Franklin. 

1 

49 

TT ft R ft Hancock . 

1 

90 

U S R S Hartford . 

0 

18 

U S R S Independence . 

0 

35 

TT ft R ft T,a.nc.a.st,er . 

0 

45 

TT S R 81 Pensacola .. 

0 

22 

TT ft R ft Philadelphia. 

0 

13 

TT ft R ft Southery . 

1 

81 

U S R S Wabash* . 

1 

26 



Tota 1 . 

4 

379 













































































230 


Statement showing stations of officers and enlisted men of the United States Marine Corps 

in detail —Continued. 

FOREIGN SERVICE. 



Officers. 

Enlisted 

men. 

Culebra, Virgin Islands. 

2 

84 

Guam, Ladrone Islands. 

4 

103 

Guantanamo, Cuba . . 

0 

34 

Honolulu, Hawaii. 

2 

49 

Isthmian Canal Zone, Panama. 

8 

202 

Midway Island, N. P. 

1 

21 

Philippine Islands. 

35 

1,196 

101 

San Juan, P. R. 

4 

Tutuila, Samoa.-. 

0 

1 

Peking, China. 

3 

124 

Yokohama Hospital, Japan. 

0 

18 

Cuba..*. 

39 

967 


Total. 

98 

2,900 



AT SEA. 


U. S. S. Alabama. 

2 

60 

U. S. S. Baltimore. 

1 

38 

U. S. S. Boston. 

1 

41 

U. S. S. Buffalo. 

0 

14 

U. S. S. Charleston. 

2 

56 

U. S. S. Chattanooga. 

1 

24 

U. S. S. Chicago. 

1 

43 

U. S. S. Cincinnati. 

1 

34 

U. S. S. Colorado. 

2 

59 

U. S. S. California.' . 

1 

48 

U. S. S. Connecticut. 

2 

60 

U. S. S. Dolphin. 

0 

10 

U. S. S. Dubuque. 

0 

12 

U. S. S. Galveston. 

1 

26 

U. S. S. Helena. 

1 

31 

IT. S. S. Illinois. 

1 

54 

U. S. S. Indiana. 

2 

48 

U. S. S. Iowa. 

2 

65 

U. S. S. Kearsarge. 

2 

57 

U. S. S. Kentucky. 

2 

60 

U. S. S. Louisiana. 

2 

64 

U. S. S. Maine. 

2 

65 

U. S. S. Maryland. 

2 

60 

U. S. S. Mayflower. 

0 

10 

U. S. S. Missouri. 

2 

58 

U. S. S. Mohican. 

0 

23 

U. S. S. New Jersey. 

2 

44 

U. S. S. Ohio. 

1 

75 

U. S. S. Paducah. 

0 

11 

U. S. S. Pennsylvania. 

2 

59 

U. S. S. Rainbow. 

1 

47 

U, S. S. Raleigh. 

o 

31 

U. S. S. Rhode Island . 

2 

42 

U. S. S. St. Louis. 

1 

48 

U. S. S. Tacoma. 

1 

24 

U. S. S. Tennessee. 

2 

38 

U. S. S. Virginia. 

2 

57 

U. S. S. Washington. 

1 

59 

U. S. S. West Virginia. 

2 

73 

U. S. S. Wilmington. 

1 

U. S. S. Wolverine. 

o 

Z *7 

94 

U. S. S. Dixie. 

9 


Total. 

fin 




Z, UoO 


UNDER ORDERS, ETC. 


Under orders. 

1 5 


Special duty. 

6 

\ 

DO 

0 

n 

On leave (en route to United States). 

On sick leave. 

o 

n 

In Army and Navy General Hospital, Fort Bayard, N. Mex 

2 

\J 

0 


Total. 

9fi 



ZD 

DO 























































































231 


Statement showing stations of officers and enlisted men of the United States Marine Corps 

in detail —Continued. 

RECAPITULATION. 


Stations in the United States 

Recruiting service. 

Receiving ships. 

Foreign service. 

At sea. 

Under orders, etc. 

Grand total. 


Distribution. 


Officers. 


Enlisted 

men. 


74 

2,782 

10 

125 

4 

379 

98 

2,900 

60 

2,086 

26 

63 

272 

8,335 


UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. 


Rank. 

Total 
number 
allowed 
by law. 

Number 
on for¬ 
eign duty 
ashore/ 

Number 
at sea. 

Number 
on shore 
duty in 
United 
States. 

Remarks. 

Colonels. 

. 6 

2 

0 

5 

One additional in grade. 

Lieutenant-colonels. 

. 6 

2 

0 

4 


Majors. 

. 15 

10 

1 

5 

Do. 

Captains. 

. 72 

29 

18 

23 


First lieutenants. 

. 85 

28 

17 

37 


Second lieutenants. 

. 72 

40 

18 

10 



There are at present, according to the above figures, 33 per cent of the entire num¬ 
ber of officers in the Corps ashore, and 67 per cent at sea or on foreign duty. 

Attention is called to the impossibility of relieving from foreign duty and sea duty 
67 per cent with 33 per cent. 


MEMORANDUM. 


The line of the Regular Armv consists of— 

Men. 


15 regiments of cavalry. 13,020 

Artillery Corps. 18,166 

30 regiments of infantry.... 25, 649 

Signal Corps. 1,212 


58, 047 

which gives the following proportions of officers to men of the line of the Army and 
the Marine Corps: 



Army. 

Marine corps. 

Officers. 

Men. 

Officers. 

Men. 

T .ipnfpnfln t-crpnprfl 1 

1 

58,047 



ATfiirir-fypnprnls .... 

7 

8; 292 



Brigadier-generals. 

18 

3; 225 

1 

8,771 

Colonels ..... 

64 

907 

6 

1,461 

Lieutenant-colonels. 

67 

866 

6 

1,461 

TVfninrs ... 

190 

305 

15 

585 

Captains .. 

888 

66 

72 

122 

First lieutenants. 

888 

66 

85 

103 

Second lieutenants. 

870 

67 

72 

122 




























































232 



Sti 

Army. 

iff. 

Marine 

Corps. 

Brigadier-generals... 

8 


Colonels .7. 

32 

3 

Lieutenant-colonels.». 

45 

3 

Majors. 

113 

6 

Captains. 

137 

9 

First lieutenants. 

265 






The Army has 1 staff officer for every 100 men. 

The Marine Corps has 1 staff officer for every 418 men. 



















[No. 11.] 


BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR—STATEMENT OF REAR- 
ADMIRAL WASHINGTON L. CAPPS, CHIEF CONSTRUCTOR. 

Committee on Naval Affairs, 

Washington , D. C., December 17 , 1906. 

The Chairman. The first item under the Bureau of Construction 
and Repair is: “Construction and repair of vessels: For preserva¬ 
tion and completion of vessels on the stocks and in ordinary,” etc., and 
the estimate is $7,900,000. Last year the appropriation was 
$7,600,000. This year the Bureau is asking for an increase of 
$300,000. Will you have any large unexpended balance this year? 

Admiral Capps. Pardon me, sir. The $7,600,000 was the amount 
of the original appropriation, which was increased by $300,000 reap¬ 
propriated from the unexpended balance of a previous year, so that 
the amount asked for this year is identical with the amount allowed 
last year. 

The Chairman. That is by reason of the reappropriation? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Could we reduce this appropriation this year? 

Admiral Capps. No, sir. The continuance of the actual rate of 
expenditure for the first five months of this fiscal year will leave 
practically no balance from our last year’s appropriation of 
$7,900,000. The amount of work on ships in commission is con¬ 
stantly increasing, with consequently increased demands upon this 
appropriation. 

Mr. Kitchin. It seems to me that last year we appropriated 
$7,900,000, including the $300,000 item we reappropriated. 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir; that is the fact. 

The Chairman. Will you kindly furnish a statement showing the 
expenditures for these different items? 

Admiral Capps. I can furnish a statement showing the expendi¬ 
tures under the various titles in the appropriation, just as I did last 
year. I have such a table prepared for the fiscal year ending June 
30, and will append it to my remarks. (See Appendix No. 3.) 

Mr. Kitchin. Will that show the amount expended at each yard? 

Admiral Capps. I have before me a table showing the amount 
expended at each navy-yard, and will append it to my statement. 
(See Appendix No. 2.) 

The Chairman. Last year there was an amendment offered on 
the floor extending this proviso— 

Provided , That no part of this sum shall be applied to the repairs of any 
wooden ship, when the estimated cost of such repairs, to be appraised by a 
competent board of naval officers, shall exceed ten percentum of the estimated 
cost. 

to all ships, and I think at that time you submitted your views. 

233 


234 


Admiral Capps. In mv testimony of last year I explained how 
such a prohibition, with respect to the repair of iron and steel ships, 
would possibly fail in accomplishing good results. The prohibition 
with respect to wooden ships was made about twenty years ago, to 
prevent the practical rebuilding of wooden ships under the guise of 
repairs. 

The general overhauling of a steel ship that has been in service for 
four or five years, with a view to bringing such a vessel up to date 
as regards armament, arrangement of magazines, supply of ammuni¬ 
tion, installation of modern auxiliaries, and fittings, so far as prac¬ 
ticable, in addition to the overhauling and repairs necessitated by 
her previous service, would involve an expenditure of from 15 to 30 
per cent of the original cost, but when the vessel was so overhauled 
and brought up to date it would, as a fighting machine, be a better 
ship than it was in the beginning, on account of the changes in arma¬ 
ment and additional fittings installed as a result of experience gained 
during the period which has elapsed since her original construction. 
Therefore, if the ship were condemned whenever the cost of repairs 
exceeded 10 per cent of the original cost of the vessel, you would not 
be able to modernize any of those ships. 

The Chairman. The idea was not to condemn the ship, but to make 
the Bureau come to Congress for a specific appropriation in each 
case. 

Admiral Capps. It is entirely possible to defer such extensive re¬ 
pairs until specific authorization has been obtained from Congress, 
but it would cause a possible delay of from twelve months to two 
years and would make it extremely difficult for the Navy Department 
to adjust in a satisfactory and economical manner the work to be 
undertaken at the various navy-yards. 

Prior to undertaking a general overhauling at any navy-yard, a 
ship on a foreign station must first be sent home, subjected to a thor¬ 
ough survey, plans of alterations and improvements prepared, and 
estimates of cost of necessary work submitted. A complete survey, 
as prepared at a navy-yard, with plans and estimates, is then sub¬ 
mitted to the Department for its action. Should it be necessary to 
await the specific action of Congress before work could be under¬ 
taken, it would be quite impracticable for the Department to assign 
work to the various navy-yards in such manner as would permit its 
most expeditious and economical performance, and it is highly prob¬ 
able that such action as Congress might desire to take would be 
based wholly upon the expert advice of the Department, as contained 
in the detailed reports of the board of survey. It should be noted in 
this connection that the detailed report of a general survey on a battle 
ship would contain probably between 150 and 200 items, these matters 
being gone into in considerable detail. 

The Chairman. I wish you would just briefly state the method 
that you pursue before the order is issued by the Secretary of the 
Navy to begin the overhauling of a ship; how many different boards 
pass upon it, etc. 

Admiral Capps. In the first place, a report is submitted by the com¬ 
manding officer of the vessel showing the condition of the ship and 
the repairs which, in his judgment, based upon actual experience in 
service, are needed. This report is given brief preliminary criticism 


by the bureau of the Navy Department concerned, and submitted to 
the Department with the recommendation that a general survey be 
ordered. I he Department having approved the holding of a general 
survey on the vessel, the papers are then transmitted to the navy- 
yard at which the vessel is to be repaired, with instructions to the 
commandant to order a board of survey. This board of survey, or¬ 
ganized in accordance with statute law, is composed (in the case of 
construction and repair surveys) of an officer designated by the 
Department (usually a captain or commander), the naval constructor 
or assistant naval constructor attached to the yard, and such master 
workmen as will have work to perform on the vessel. Plans are made 
showing the various proposed alterations, and detailed estimates of 
cost and time are prepared. The survey is then sent to the com¬ 
mandant and his action thereon noted; it is then forwarded to the 
Secretary of the Navy, who transmits it to the bureau concerned. It 
is then considered in detail by the bureau officers, having in view the 
experience obtained with other vessels of similar type and the im¬ 
provements which have taken place on later vessels; the survey is then 
sent back to the Secretary of the Navy with the Bureau’s comments and 
recommendations, and in the case of large surveys, the Department 
makes further reference to the board of construction, which is com¬ 
posed of all the chiefs of bureaus having cognizance of work on 
board ship. It is finally returned to the Department with the action 
of the board on construction noted, and receives the Department’s 
final action. It thus appears that work in connection with the gen¬ 
eral overhauling of a vessel is given most careful attention by a large 
number of officials directly concerned with such work. It is not in¬ 
frequent that surveys are returned to navy-yards for revision by the 
board of survey, with a view to decreasing the expenditure. 

The Chairman. Has not the Secretary made a new order to the 
effect that the Assistant Secretary shall look over the vessel before 
there is any general overhauling? 

Admiral Capps. The Assistant Secretary, as a matter of fact, does 
usually look over the vessel. Such inspection is a part of his general 
duties, but must, of course, be only of a general nature. No one man 
can critically consider in a few hours what more than half a dozen 
men have been working out for several weeks. 

Mr. Kitchin. Under that condition, could there be any delay in 
leaving this matter of repairing where the percentage of cost exceeds 
10 per cent to Congress until after the Secretary of the Navy has 
made his final recommendation? 

Admiral Capps. You mean to refer the report of the board, for 
instance, to Congress before going to the Secretary? 

Mr. Kitchin. No, sir. I mean after the Secretary has taken 
action, then refer it to Congress. It seems to me there never could 
be more delay than probably ten months, we will say, if Congress 
desired to act upon it. 

Admiral Capps. In my judgment, the condition would seem to be 
this: If a vessel was about to return to the United States for a gen¬ 
eral overhauling and did not arrive in time to have a complete survey 
prepared before the adjournment of Congress, all work would have 
to be suspended and the vessel laid up in ordinary until the survey 
could be submitted to Congress, passed upon in committee, and ap¬ 
proved in connection with the current naval appropriation bill. As 


236 


such bills do not ordinarily pass Congress before May or June in the 
long session, it is quite possible that it would be a year or a year and 
a half before repairs could actually be begun. 

Mr. Kitchin. If they got it ready by March and got it in before 
Congress adjourned, there would be no delay, probably not over two 
weeks, but if it was a thing that they could not get ready until March, 
it would have to go until December. 

Admiral CAPrs. Unless we could regulate the movements of vessels 
and their being placed out of commission, with respect to the working 
conditions prevailing at navv-yards, it would be wholly imprac¬ 
ticable to so arrange matters that there would be a delay of less than 
one year. In course of time the placing of vessels out of commission 
for general overhauling may be determined with greater certainty 
and may be adapted to the needs not only of the fleet, but of the repair 
stations. At the present time, however, the exigencies of the service 
are such as to make such ideal arrangements out of the question. 

The Chairman. How many of the big ships have been over¬ 
hauled ? 

Admiral Capps. The Indiana has recently been given a very thor¬ 
ough overhauling. The Iowa and Kentucky received quite an ex¬ 
tensive overhauling several years ago, but this overhauling was not 
nearly so thorough as that on the Indiana. The Brooklyn and New 
York were also given quite extensive repairs before beginning their 
last cruise. The Massachusetts and Oregon are now in course of 
overhauling, and the Wisconsin is being given a general survey. 

The Chairman. What was the cost .of overhauling the Indiana? 

Admiral Capps. Under this Bureau, about $600,000. 

The Chairman. I thought the Massachusetts was to be overhauled? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir; some of the repairs are being held up 
pending further revision of the survey. 

The Chairman. What other large ships have you in contempla¬ 
tion? 

Admiral Capps. The Wisconsin is out of commission at Puget 
Sound to be generally overhauled. The New York is actually being 
overhauled at Boston, the Massachusetts at New York, and the Ore¬ 
gon at Puget Sound. The Illinois and the Alabama , sister ships of 
the Wisconsin, will probably be out of commission before the end of 
next year. 

The Chairman. You can not tell exactly what this general over¬ 
hauling is going to cost until you get to the end of it, but, as a 
general proposition, what will it amount to? What percentage of 
the ship? 

Admiral Capps. In all departments? 

The Chairman. Yes, sir. 

Admiral Capps. If you use as a basis the total cost of the ship as 
a fighting machine, say $6,000,000 for the Indiana , it would be in 
the neighborhood of 15 to 20 per cent. 

The Chairman. In the case of the New York , for instance, that is 
a cruiser? 

Admiral Capps. It will be a little higher because the cost of hull 
and machinery forms a much greater percentage of the total cost of 
a cruiser than do similar items in the case of a battle ship. The total 
cost of the New York was about $4,500,000, as I recall it. 


Mr. Ivitchin. A hat will the percentage for repairs amount to, 25 
or 30 per cent? 

Admiral* C /Apps. In the unarmored cruisers it will be as high as 30 
per cent. In the case of battle ships, in the neighborhood of 20 per 
cent. 

Mr. Loud. What was the cost of the repairs to the two Spanish 
boats at the Portsmouth yard, $100,000? 

Admiral Capps. About $125,000 each. 

The Chairman. How often would a ship need such an extensive 
overhauling as, for instance, the Indiana or the New York f 

Admiral Capps. Probably not more-than once, and certainly not 
more than twice in a lifetime. The Indiana had been in commission 
for ten years before being overhauled. 

Mr. Ivitchin. What is a lifetime, twenty years? 

Admiral Capps. About twenty years. That may be regarded as the 
lifetime, not of the hull and outfit of the vessel,' but of the vessel’s, 
efficiency as a fighting machine under average conditions, and when 
opposed to vessels of the latest design. 

The Chairman. She would still be, to a certain extent, a fighting 
machine ? 

Admiral Capps. She would still be a good fighting machine of her 
day, and would render good service when opposed to vessels of ap¬ 
proximately the same age of hull and battery. 

Mr. Ivitchin. When did the Alabama go into commission, if 
you recollect, about seven years ago? 

Admiral Capps. The first commission was October 16, 1900, a 
little over six years ago. 

The Chairman. Are you contemplating overhauling her? 

Admiral Capps. As soon as she can be spared from the fleet. 

Mr. Ivitchin. She needs repairing now? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir; very much. As a rule, it is very un¬ 
desirable to keep a vessel of that class in commission more than 
four or five years; that is, you would probably have a very much 
less bill for general overhauling and would keep the ship in a more 
efficient condition if the general overhauling is not unduly delayed. 

The Chairman. Have you had a survey made of her? 

Admiral Capps. No, sir; we do not do that until she is out of 
commission. 

The Chairman. Where has she been ? 

Admiral Capps. In the fleet. 

The Chairman. After this general overhauling, in your judg¬ 
ment, is the ship practically as good as new or better? 

Admiral Capps. A ship of her class, after being generally over¬ 
hauled, is a more efficient fighting machine than she was when new, 
because a great many of the changes directly increase the military 
efficiency, including, as they usually do, improved arrangements for 
the stowage and supply of ammunition, etc. 

Mr. Ivitchin. The hull will last? 

Admiral Capps. The hull will last indefinitely if properly cared 
for, and there is a very rigid system of inspection for naval vessels* 
which insures proper care. Portions like the inner bottom under the 
machinery, lower plates of coal-bunker bulkheads, etc., and fittings 
in general have to be renewed or repaired; also nearly all the 


auxiliary machinery, including capstans and winches, steering gear, 
etc., have to be overhauled; but the outside hull is usually in excel¬ 
lent condition. 

The Chairman. I wish you would put in the hearings your views 
on the question of submitting to Congress the estimates for general 
overhauling and also the wisdom of extending the 10 per cent provi¬ 
sion to all ships. You did submit your views very fully last year. 

Admiral Capps. Yes. sir. The principal objections that occur to 
me are the delay in undertaking the work and the inability of the De¬ 
partment to properly provide for a reasonable succession of work at 
navy-yards, in view of the uncertainty as to the amount of repairs 
which Congress might authorize or the date upon which such repairs 
can be undertaken. In any event it appears to me that it would be 
wholly impracticable for Congress or any of its committees to go into 
the details of the repairs to ships in so complete a manner as they 
are already gone into by officials of the Navy Department. Each 
general survey of a large vessel in the Bureau of Construction and 
Repair alone involves from 150 to 200 or more items of work, and it 
would appear that in the end the committee of Congress charged with 
such supervision would be compelled to rely upon such exjiert recom¬ 
mendation as it might receive from the Xavv Department. This 
matter was gone into so thoroughly last year, as previously noted by 
the chairman, that I sumbit below quotations from last year's hear¬ 
ings, which give the views of the chief constructor in this matter: 

The Chairman. Now, I want to go on with Admiral Capps a little bit on this 
question of limiting the cost. Admiral, do you think it would be wise to limit 
the cost of repairs on these vessels? Would it not tend toward the more careful 
consideration of the subject of overhauling ships? 

Admiral Capps. I can not say it would tend to a more careful consideration, 
because I believe that is done very conscientiously now. It would absolutely 
prohibit, however, the extensive overhauling of certain vessels when the esti¬ 
mated cost of overhauling exceeded a certain amount. I am of the opinion, 
moreover, that it would really be shifting to Congress a responsibility for de¬ 
termining details which the Navy Department should shoulder. Should Con¬ 
gress decide to limit the cost of general overhauling of comparatively modern 
steel vessels to a definite percentage of the cost of a new vessel of like size and 
material, I sincerely trust that the percentage determined upon will not be so 
low as to compel the abandonment of a vessel which, by the expenditure of, say, 
25 per cent of her original cost, will be a much more efficient fighting machine 
than was the same vessel when first built; for it must be borne in mind that 
a very large part of the cost of overhauling war ships is due to improvements 
resulting from developments in naval material since the vessel was originally 
built. 

The Chairman. Take the ordinary repairs on ships. Will they amount to 
10 per cent on the cost? 

Admiral Capps. You mean per annum? 

The Chairman. Yes. 

Admiral Capps. Oh. not anywhere near it. For battle ships and armored 
cruisers the annual cost of repairs rarely exceed 3 per cent of their first cost, 
and is frequently below 1 per cent of the original cost of the vessel. In pre¬ 
vious testimony, in reply to the various questions about limiting the cost of 
repairs, it was stated that material reductions were frequently made from those 
required by commanding officers. Certain instances of this character which 
have occurred during the past year will clearly illustrate this. For instance, 
on the Alabama. which has been in commission for five years, the commanding 
officer requested certain repairs and alterations, and the board of survey recom¬ 
mended an expenditure of over $53,000. but only $10,000 was approved by the 
Bureau—practically a third of the amount recommended by the board. In the 
case of the X era da, in a similar manner, an expenditure of $13,000 was recom¬ 
mended and urged, and repairs to the extent of only $4,400 were approved by 
the Bureau. 


239 


On the Florida , a similar vessel, over $12,000 was recommended by the board 
of survey to be expended, acting upon the commanding officer's request for re¬ 
pairs, and only $<>.000 was approved. On the Missouri over $10,000 was recom¬ 
mended. and only $3,000 was approved. On the Kearsarge , which had been con¬ 
tinuously in commission for six years. $07,000 was recommended as urgently 
needed for repairs and alterations, and less than $40,000 was approved. On the 
Columbia $11,000 was recommended by the board of survey to be expended in 
repairs, and only $3,000 was approved by the Bureau. Some of the above 
charges represent the docking and minor repairs at semiannual overhaulings, 
while the larger figures represent the more extensive annual repairs. The 
above instances are a few, taken from many, to show that these matters are 
carefully considered, and requests for repairs which, in the opinion of command¬ 
ing officers, are urgent are often wholly disapproved in order that the appropria¬ 
tions under the cognizance of the Bureau may be expended where there is the 
most vital need for them. 

It may also he noted that since January 1, 1900, items of work in¬ 
volving expenditures of nearly $350,000, which have been urgently 
recommended by commanding officers, have after careful examination 
been disapproved as not being sufficiently urgently required to neces¬ 
sitate execution at that time. I am very much of the opinion that 
every reasonable care is now taken bv the Department to limit the 
cost of repairs to the least amount practicable having due regard to 
the military exigencies of the service. It must be borne in mind, 
however, that improvements in military materiel are constantly tak¬ 
ing place and that in order that the fleet may be kept in efficient con¬ 
dition repairs and alterations to an extent much greater than that 
prevailing in the mercantile marine must be promptly undertaken. 
The chief constructor desires, moreover, to invite special attention to 
the fact that although the number of large ships in commission is 
constantly increasing, the total appropriation asked for this year is 
less than the amount appropriated for the fiscal years ending 1903, 
1904. and 1905, and is exactly the same as the appropriation for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, i907. In view of all the circumstances 
the chief constructor does not believe it to be advisable to delay the 
undertaking of large repairs to vessels until same have been passed 
upon by Congress, unless the limiting percentage be made sufficiently 
high to cover all ordinary cases, and, as stated last year, this per¬ 
centage should, in my judgment, be not less than 30 per cent. 

Mr. Loi n. Can you tell us the cost of rebuilding the* two ships out 
in the Philippines, at Cavite—one a monitor? 

Admiral Capps. 1 can not recall the approximate amount. Such 
work is very expensive, however. I have recommended most defi¬ 
nitely that general overhauling of this character be not done again. 
In fact, my annual report last year, and again this year, invited 
attention to the importance of doing all large overhauling work in 
navy-yards within the continental limits of the United States. 

The Chairman. And keep our own labor employed? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. Nothing but urgent or incidental re¬ 
pairs due to wear and tear should be made on foreign stations, when¬ 
ever practicable. 

Mr. Loud. Will it require 3,000 men to keep up incidental repairs? 

Admiral Capps. I do not think they have that many there now. 

Mr. Loud. When we were there they had. 

Admiral Capps. I should say, if the fleet continues to remain as 
at present, there could be a reduction of 20 per cent, and possibly 
more, but it has been my experience that the work performed per 


240 


diem by the class of men available at Cavite is very much less than 
the amount required and obtained from mechanics in our home 
yards. 

Mr. Loud. It looks like a pretty poor and expensive place to re¬ 
build a ship. 

Admiral Capps. It is undesirable for such extensive work. The 
Bureau is strongly on record in regard to that. One of the first 
things the present Chief of the Bureau did was to strongly recommend 
against it, and his predecessor made similar recommendation. 

The Chairman. I wish you would put in the hearing a statement 
showing the ships that it is proposed to repair and overhaul during 
the coming year. 

Admiral Capps. The following battle ships and large cruisers will 
be under general repair during the current fiscal year: Massachu¬ 
setts . Oregon , Wisconsin , New York , and San Francisco. The ships 
to be repaired would include the whole fleet now in commission, 
since the fleet, as a rule, comes to a navy-yard twice each year— 
once for minor repairs and docking and the other time for such 
repairs and alterations as are absolutely necessary and can be per¬ 
formed within forty-five days. There will also be rather heavy 
repairs on all of the battle ships in connection with the installation 
of the latest system of “ fire control,” a preliminary outfit having 
already been installed on the Virginia. 

The Chairman. The estimates with respect to the construction 
plants at the different navy-yards are the same as last year, all of 
them? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Except the construction plant at Charleston, where 
an appropriation of $30,000 is asked ? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. We have had no appropriation made for 
that yard, and the yard may possibly be ready for operation in the 
next eighteen months. It is therefore necessary to make provision 
for the machinery plant. Of course, $30,000 is not more than half 
enough to equip one large shop, but we are already transferring ma¬ 
chinery from Port Royal and we are getting some new tools from our 
current appropriation. 

Mr. Loud. Do you not think it would be better if the completion of 
the yard at Charleston was deferred as long as possible? 

Admiral Capps. My recommendation would be not to do any work 
there until the yard is properly prepared for such work, including the 
dock. 

The Chairman. The dock is not ready ? 

Admiral Capps. No, sir. 

The Chairman. It will be ready before long? 

Admiral Capps. The dock itself is in a very advanced stage, but a 
great deal of dredging will have to be done in order to get to the 
dock. 

Mr. Loud. Have we not enough vards in commission to do all the 
work ? 

Admiral Capps. I think I stated last year that if it was a pure ques¬ 
tion of doing the work and the work was properly distributed it could 
all be done in two yards. That does not take into account the necessi¬ 
ties in time of war, however, or even the exigencies in time of peace 
when fleet operations have to be considered. 


241 


Mr. Loud. I referred to the time of peace. 

Admiral Capps. In time of peace the maintenance of the fleet could 
be taken care of by three yards, two on this coast and one on the Pa¬ 
cific coast, provided, of course, that only portions of the fleet were 
sent to these yards from time to time. That would seriously inter¬ 
fere, however, with the fleet programme. 

The Chairman. The Connecticut was built in the New York Navy- 
Yard. Has she gone into commission? 

Admiral Capps. She has been in commission for some time, and 
has sailed from New York. 

The Chairman. Have you made your report upon her? 

Admiral Capps. As to the cost ? 

The Chairman. Yes, sir. 

Admiral Capps. AYe have asked for details of the final cost, but 
the data is not yet in shape for suitable presentation. 

The Chairman. When will you be able to make that report? 

Admiral Capps. 1 hope to obtain a final report within the next 
few weeks. 

The Chairman. We would also like a report of the amount that 
was expended to get that yard into shape to build the Connecticut. 

Admiral Capps. That' is a more difficult thing. I can give it to 
you, but it means an arbitral statement of what was spent for the 
Connecticut and the improvement of the yard as a whole. The Con¬ 
necticut was built w T hen a great deal of other work was being carried 
on concurrently, and it would mean an arbitrary decision as to what 
was purely for the Connecticut and what was for the yard as a 
whole. 

The Chairman. Can you state about what was the cost of the 
Connecticut as compared with that of the Louisiana? 

Admiral Capps. The cost of the Connecticut, without the armor 
and armament, will be very close to $4,600,000. The cost of the 
Louisiana , as compared with similar work done by the Government, 
will be in the neighborhood of $4,200,000. 

The Chairman. A difference of about $400,000 ? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Loud. Did that $4,600,000 include a portion of the fixed ex¬ 
penses of the yard ? 

Admiral Capps. It includes all the cost of power and the cost of 
foremen and the proportionate cost of salaries of officers, and all that 
sort of thing; but no charges in the navy-yard take into account a 
depreciation of the plant as a whole, or repairs or renewals. In 
other words, the cost of work at a navy-yard can not be accurately 
compared with the cost of work at private establishments. 

Mr. Loud. But it includes a portion of the administrative force— 
the pay department, etc.? 

Admiral Capps. All of that; in fact, the cost of the services of all 
the personnel concerned. 

The Chairman. Has this vessel been given a trial trip ? 

Admiral Capps. She has just left the navy-yard. 

The Chairman. She will be given a trial trip? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. The Connecticut has at present a com¬ 
paratively green crew, and it is desired bv the authorities to give 
them a chance to know the ship before having a formal trial. It is 

n p —07-16 



242 


also desired to utilize the Connecticut in the forthcoming naval 
maneuvers, so that a trial at this time seems impracticable. 

The Chairman. What was the difference in time of the building 
of those two ships ? 

Admiral Capps. I think it is fair to say that the time of construc¬ 
tion of each ship was about the same. The Connecticut , at the time 
of the delivery of the Louisiana , was at about the same stage of com¬ 
pletion. The Louisiana was placed in commission before the Con¬ 
necticut for the reason that it was necessary to take over the vessel 
from the contractors in an incomplete state, due to the nondelivery 
of material, for which the Government was responsible. To have 
forced the contractors to hold the vessel until such material was 
delivered and installed would possibly have involved the Government 
in suits for damages for delay in matters for which it was itself 
responsible. The vessel being delivered, it was advisable to put a crew 
on board and complete the work at the navy-yard! 

Mr. Kitchin. Why was the Government negligent in delaying 
that matter ? 

Admiral Capps. The Government was not negligent, but subcon¬ 
tractors were delayed in their deliveries. The principal material 
which caused delay was armor and armament, particularly arma¬ 
ment ; also some electrical material. The contract provided that the 
contractors install this material, but there were many delays in de¬ 
livery, due to various causes, and the material could not be completely 
installed by the contractors. 

Mr. Kitchin. Can you recall whether the same contractors were to 
furnish this material for the Louisiana and the Connecticut? 

Admiral Capps. In some cases they were the same. 

Mr. Kitchin. Did they deliver it to the Louisiana prior to de¬ 
livering it to the Connecticutf 

Admiral Capps. In the case of motors, guns, etc., they did not. 
That was the material that was delaying the completion of the ship, 
and to protect itself the Government accepted delivery under the 
terms of the contract. 

Mr. Kitchin. Did all these private contractors apparently exert 
themselves to comply with the contracts on the Connecticut as much 
as on the Louisianat 

Admiral Capps. I do not think there was any discrimination. 

The Chairman. There was no partiality shown, in your judgment ? 

Admiral Capps. None whatever. There were some deliveries of 
armor in the early stages of building that were made more promptly 
on the Louisiana , but later the Connecticut was given preference. 
The Department, as far as I am aware, did its best to give equal con¬ 
sideration to each ship. 

The Chairman. You gave us the cost of the hull and machinery, 
which showed a difference of about $400,000. On the total cost of 
the ship, how did it come out? 

Admiral Capps. The other articles would be common to the two 
ships inasmuch as they are material supplied by the Government. 

The Chairman. The real difference in cost of the hull and ma¬ 
chinery would constitute the difference on the whole ship ? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir; of course that does not include the cost 
of leave and holidays. That is charged to a separate account. 

The Chairman. What would that amount to? 


243 


Admiral Capps. I can not give it to you exactly; in the neighbor¬ 
hood of $150,000, I should say. 

Mr. Ivitchin. What about the cost of inspection? 

Admiral Capps. That is all included. 

Mr. Kitchin. In both cases? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Loud. Have you begun work on the two colliers? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. 

Mr. Loud. Are the keels laid ? 

Admiral Capps. No, the keels are not laid. The material is or¬ 
dered, but it has not been received. 

The Chairman. Will the statement of cost of the Louisiana and 
Connecticut show the difference in cost of the various items? 

Admiral Capps. No, sir; it would show only the difference in total 
cost of the two vessels, also the cost of changes on the two vessels, 
since it is not expected that the contractor will give details of the 
cost of his work, the only cost upon which the Department can count 
with certainty being the contract price and the cost of changes. It 
is quite probable that the difference in cost of the two vessels is 
largely due to the difference in the hours of labor and a slight dif¬ 
ference in the actual cost of labor at the two yards, the per diem 
pay for nearly all kinds of labor being greater at New York than at 
Newport News. However, the contract price of a vessel does not 
necessarily mean the actual cost of building the vessel. 

The Chairman. He makes a profit? 

Admiral Capps. The builder undoubtedly aims to make a profit, 
but in some cases I think it has been very close to a deficit. 

The Chairman. There is a good deal of competition, is there not? 

Admiral Capps. The competition is very keen. For instance, a sis¬ 
ter ship to the Louisiana was contracted for more than two years 
later at a price more than $240,000 less than that named in the con¬ 
tract for the Louisiana. 

Mr. Loud. Who is building it? 

Admiral Capps. The New York Shipbuilding Company. The con¬ 
tract price in this case will, under normal conditions of labor, afford 
an extremely small margin, if any. The bid of the Newport News 
Shipbuilding Company was even less, but could not be accepted, as 
they were also the lowest bidders for the two armored cruisers. 

The Chairman. So there is active competition? 

Admiral Capps. The competition has been very active. 

Mr. Kitchin. It was known, however, that the Government was 
going to build the sister ship at the time? 

Admiral Capps. In the case of the Louisiana; yes, sir. 

Mr. Kitchin. The contract price for the Louisiana was greater 
than the bid made subsequently for a similar ship by the same con¬ 
tractors ? 

Admiral Capps. At the time of the opening of the bids for the New 
Hampshire the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, 
which had the contract for the Louisiana , bid about $100,000 less 
than the New York Shipbuilding Company for the same ship, but 
they could not be awarded the contract, because Congress had ex¬ 
plicitly limited the number that could be given to any one firm to two 
vessels. 



244 


Mr. Kitchin. How did that bid for the New Hampshire compare 
with the bid for the Louisianaf 

Admiral Capps. By the same firm, $340,000 less. 

Mr. Kitchin. Less than for the Louisiana? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir; less than was bid by the.same firm for 
the Louisiana two years before. 

Mr. Kitchin. It looks like when the Government begins to build 
they try to build ships for less ? 

Admiral Capps. No; so far as I am aware, there has nearly always 
been keen competition. As indicating that building in Government 
yards was not the controlling factor it may be noted that the very 
next year after the Louisiana was contracted for the lowest bid price 
for the Vermont , Kansas , and Minnesota was $120,000 more than for 
the Louisiana , although they w T ere sister ships of the Louisiana , and 
the next year following the bid prices for the same class of vessel 
were very much less. 

Mr. Kitchin. Is there any general cause, so far as you know, for 
these variations in price ? 

Admiral Capps. Of course, the general condition of the labor and 
material market has to be considered, but even these conditions do 
not seem to be controlling. Within certain limits, the condition of 
work at any particular yard has an important bearing. It may be 
that a certain yard is quite out of work; under such conditions they 
are apt to—in fact, for business reasons, they must—bid just as low 
as they deem prudent. They need the work and must have it. If 
a yard is full of work it can afford to take chances and make a 
higher bid. 

Mr. Loud. Would it not be more economical for the yard if they 
had a second ship to build exactly like the first one ? 

Admiral Capps. Unquestionably. 

The Chairman. You do not think any large profits have been 
made? 

Admiral Capps. No, sir. I think, on the contrary, that the cost of 
our ships has been very moderate. 

The Chairman. Is there any combination among any number of 
the shipyards. 

Admiral Capps. Not to my knowledge. 

The Chairman. I have heard recently that the Scott yard out in 
San Francisco was a part of the combination. 

Admiral Capps. The United States Shipbuilding Company in¬ 
cluded, among others, the Union Iron Works, of San Francisco, Cal., 
Harlan & Hollingsworth Company, of Wilmington, Del., and the 
Bath Iron Works, of Bath, Me.—all of which firms had held con¬ 
tracts for naval vessels at various times; but the United States Ship¬ 
building Company was soon dissolved, and I believe that the majority 
of the constituent firms are now acting independently under other 
ownership. Certainly there are quite a number of prominent ship¬ 
building firms which are entirely independent of one another, so far 
as I am aware. 

The Chairman. I wish you would place the names of those firms in 
the hearing. 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. Of course I know nothing of the details 
of their corporate organization, but, so far as my knowledge goes, the 
following shipbuilding firms, which are now doing Government work, 


245 


are quite independent of one another: The Bath Iron Works Com¬ 
pany, of Bath, Me.; the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, of 
Quincy, Mass.; the NeAv York Shipbuilding Company, of Camden, 
N. J.; the Wm. Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Company, 
of Philadelphia, Pa.: the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock 
Company, of Newport News, Va.; the Union Iron Works, of San 
Francisco, Cal., and the Moran Brothers Company, of Seattle, Wash. 

The Chairman. The next item is u Construction and machinery.” 
On account of hulls and outfits of vessels and steam machinery of 
hulls heretofore authorized, $12,713,915. 

Admiral Capps. That estimate is based upon the actual prospective 
amount required during the next fiscal year to pay the bills as they be¬ 
come due on vessels building by contract. 

The Chairman. Will that cover all the ships now authorized? 

Admiral Capps. All the ships authorized, including No. 28. 

The Chairman. That will pay all the bills? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir; under “Construction and machinery” 
for the next fiscal year. 

The Chairman. Next year what will the amount probably be? 

Admiral Capps. The fiscal year 1908-9? 

The Chairman. Yes, sir. 

Admiral Capps. Less than $7,000,000. 

The Chairman. Will that complete the ships? 

Admiral Capps. No, sir; there will be work in progress in 1910 
and also in 1911. Battle ship No. 28 will carry over until 1911. I 
presume you want the total cost to complete all the ships heretofore 
authorized ? 

The Chairman. Yes; authorized. 

Admiral Capps. That will be, for “ Construction and machinery,” 
in round numbers, $44,000,000. 

The Chairman. Can you put in a statement showing how this 
money will be expended? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir; I will. (See Appendix No. 4.) 

The Chairman. Battle ship No. 28—what ship is that? 

Admiral Capps. Battle ship No. 28 is the ship plans of which are 
now before Congress. 

The Chairman. Will the $44,000,000 include that? 

Admiral Capps. Yes, sir. 

The Chairman. Irrespective of that, what would be the total 
amount ? 

Admiral Capps. $0,000,000 less, or $38,000,000. 

The Chairman. What part of this estimate of $12,713,915 asked 
for this year relates to battle ship No. 28? 

Admiral Capps. $1,562,500. 

The Chairman. The plans and specifications for that ship have 
been sent to Congress ? 

Admiral Capps. The preliminary plans and specifications have 
been sent to Congress. The Secretary of the Navy sent a letter of 
transmittal to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 
one to the President of the Senate. The documents accompanied the 
letter addressed to the President of the Senate, I believe. 


246 


Appendix No. 1. 


Statement showing expenditures from appropriation, “Construction and repair, 1907, u 

from July 1 to November 30, 1906. 



Allowed for 
labor. 

Requisitions 
for material. 

- 

Total. 

Prior to July 1 1906 . 


5307,364.27 
217, 630. 09 
117, 652. 63 
93,146.18 
232, 335.63 
131,204.25 

5307,364.27 
624,032.09 
454, 570.09 
429,743.12 
511,925.11 
512, 659. 73 

July 1906 . 

5406,402.00 
336,917.46 
336,596.94 

279.589.48 

381.455.48 

August 1906 ... . 

September 1906 . 

October 1906 . 

November 1906. 

Less balance unexpended at navy-yards Nov. 30, 1906.. 
Less difference between estimated and actual cost on 
requisitions for material. 

1,740,961.36 

63,250.00 

1,099,333. 05 

103,858.38 

2,840,294.41 


Naval supply fund and transfers at navy-yards (as re¬ 
ported for July and August and estimated for Sep¬ 
tember, October, and November). 


2,673,186. 03 

271,289. 31 

324,707.23 

1,000.00 

1,677,711.36 

995,474.67 

Foreign bills (as reported for July and August and esti¬ 
mated for September, October, and November). 



Miscellaneous (advertising, telegrams, expressage, etc., 
balance of fiscal year). 



Total. 



3,270,182. 57 





Appropriation, “Construction and repair, 1907”.57,900,000.00 

Expended, etc., as above to December 1, 1906 . 3,270,182.57 

Available balance December 1, 1906. 4,629,817. 43 

Average monthly expenditure for five months ending November 30,1906. 654,036.00 

Average possible monthly expenditure for seven months to June 30, 1906 . 661,403.00 


(Monthly allotment by division of total appropriation into 12 parts, 5658,333.) 


Appendix No. 2. 


Statement of expenditures at United States navy-yards and stations from appropriation 
“Construction and repair" for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1906. 


Navy-yard or station. 


Portsmouth. 

Boston. 

New York. 

League Island. 

Washington. 

Norfolk. 

Pensacola. 

Mare Island. 

Puget Sound. 

Cavite. 

Naval training station 
Naval torpedo station. 

Port Royal. 

Key West. 

New Orleans. 

San Juan. 

Culebra. 

Tutuila. 


Labor. 

Material. 

Total. 

Period of time. 

' 5287,823.30 

5158, 839. 31 

5446, 662.61 

Fiscal year 1906. 

538, 734. 09 

265,183. 56 

803,917.65 

Do. 

1,145,786. 37 
434,041.42 

668,072.38 

1,813,858.75 

Do. 

186, 534.57 

620, 575. 99 

Do. 

90,763. 32 

28,091.29 

118, 854. 61 

Do, 

628,367.94 

380,489. 69 

1,008,857.63 

Do. 

147,411.82 

108,077. 02 

255,488. 84 

Do. 

531,596. 91 

312,414.24 

844,011.15 

Do. 

235,099.28 

78.712. 66 

313,811.94 

Do. 

400, 748.10 

346,110.17 

746,858. 27 

Do. 

3,182.12 

3,182.12 

Do. 

2,837. 70 

829.17 

3,666. 87 

Do. 

7,031.63 

6,065.18 

13, 096. 81 

Do. 

2, 904. 83 

1,026.13 

3,930.96 

Do. 

21,977.56 

7,462. 66 

29,440.22 

Do. 

2, 783.80 

2,404.07 

5,187.87 

Do. 

240.00 

210.00 

Do. 

152. 46 

8. 91 

161.37 

Do. 

4,481,482. 65 

2,550.321.01 

7,031,803.66 



Total 
















































































247 


Bureau ei penditures. 


Open contract, services (labor and material) rendered by outside parties entirely, such 
as supplying and installation of proprietary articles or other material of special 
manufacture, when such method of supply and installation is advantageous to the Gov¬ 
ernment; also telephone, telegraph, and other miscellaneous services. 

Issues from naval supply fund to vessels in commission and to small stations involving 

direct charge to appropriation for construction and repairs. 

Public bills, expenditures on vessels in commission authorized by commanding officer 
in payment lor work under cognizance of Bureau of Construction and Repairs (not 

including Cavite). 

Estimated amount required to meet outstanding obligations for material contracted for 
and not delivered or for which bi^ls have not been received. 


$51,684.09 
375,216.00 

100,960.87 
240,000.00 


Total estimated expenditures 


7,799,664.62 


Appendix No. 3. 

Statement of expenditures under appropriation “ Construction and repairfrom July 1, 

1905, to June 30, 1906. 

[This statement is prepared from data taken from the monthly returns of expenditures sent 
direct to this Bureau. It will be noted that the titles of charges, as specified in the Navy Regulations, 
are given, a brief description of the objects of charge under these titles being added thereto.] 


Titles “D” and “ P,” repairs to such integral parts of 
a ship, ordinarily not transferable fixtures, as were 
objects of direct charge to the hull of the ship, 
under Title “A,” including expenditures for addi¬ 
tions, improvements, and alterations in the orig¬ 
inal construction and arrangements; also repairs 
made at navy-yards to articles on board ships in 
commission and originally chargeable to Title “B”. 
Titles “ E” and “ F” include charges to stations on 
account of fixed and movable property, such as dry 
and other dock, wharves, storehouses, ship houses, 
machine shops, etc.; also movable property, such as 
derricks, shears, scows, cranes, pile drivers, and 
tugs not borne upon the Navy Register, tenders, 
launches, lighters, boats, etc.., not belonging to a 
receiving or other ship but pertaining to the sta¬ 
tion proper, etc.; cost of machinery plant, includ¬ 
ing plant for producing or transmitting power, 
including engines, shafting, boilers and appurte¬ 
nances; machinery and machine tools for manu¬ 
facturing purposes. 

Title “G,” general maintenance, includes cost of 
upkeep of all yard craft, tools, machinery, appli¬ 
ances, etc., noted under Titles “ E ” and “ F”; also 
fuel, and hand tools used in general shops, etc.; 
also care and preservation of all vessels not in 

commission. 

Title “N” and so much of Title “V” as does not 
cover pay for holidays. Title “ N ” includes ex¬ 
penditures for completed models of ships and ex¬ 
perimental work in general. Title “ V ” comprises 
miscellaneous expenditures for advertising, tele¬ 
graphing, telephoning, printing,* photographing, 

and express charges, drawing materials, etc. 

Title “V”: Payments on account of leave and holi¬ 
days, in accordance with statute law, no work be¬ 
ing given in return therefor. 

Title “ Z ” embraces the cost of all articles manufac¬ 
tured bv the Government for the Naval Establish¬ 
ment and delivered to general storekeepers for 

issue.- 

Outfits and stores issued by general storekeepers di¬ 
rect from naval supply fund to vessels in commission 


Labor. 

Material. 

Total. 

$2,165,228. m 

$817.050.09 

$2,982,278.97± 

406,052.77 

586,837. 08 

992,889.85 

1,011,879.46i 

330, 306.00 

1,342,185.46£ 

108,285.58 

22,121. 28 

130,406. 86 

305,257.23 


305,257.23 

484,778. 72 

794,006. 56 

1,278, 785.28 


375,216.00 

375,216. 00 



4,481,482.65 

2,925,537.01 

Expenditures for repairs, supplies, etc., to vessels in 



commission away nuui Iiavj-j'aius... 

Total as shown on records of Bureau of Construction 



Outstanding obligations and unreported expendi- 





» 


7,407,019. 66 
51,684.09 

100,960. 87 

7, 559,664.62 
240,000. 00 
7,799,664.62 









































248 

Appendix No. 4. 


Statement showing total amount necessary to he appropriated for completion of hulls and 
machinery of vessels already authorized , this amount including the $12,713,915 esti¬ 
mated for “Increase of the Navy, construction and machineryand to be carried by the 
naval appropriation bill now under consideration. 


Class and name of vessel. 


Amount. 


All ships preliminarily accepted prior to July 1, 1906, with final payments in fiscal 

year 1907 . 

Battle ships: 

Nebraska. 

Georgia. 

Vermont. 

Kansas. 

Minnesota. 

Mississippi.. 

Idaho. 

New Hampshire. 

Battle ship No. 28.. 

South Carolina. 

Michigan. 

Armored cruisers: 

California. 

South Dakota.... 

Tennessee. 

Washington. 

North Carolina. 

Montana. 

Protected cruisers: 

St. Louis. 

Milwaukee. 

Scout cruisers: 

Chester. 

Birmingham. 

Salem. 

Colliers: 

Vestal. 

Prometheus... 

Torpedo boat destroyers: 

Nos. 17, 18, and 19. 


81,474,458 

936,271 
261,093 
853, 741 
895, 705 
660,705 
1,304,469 
1,408,822 
2, 662, 282 
6,030,000 
4, 546, 765 
4,546,765 


619,526 
753,533 
343,473 
442,424 
2, 749, 558 
3,036,281 

281,453 
373,701 

1,481,804 
1,468, 392 
1,524,223 

1,538,412 
1,547,666 

2,250,000 


Total 


43,991,522 


Note.—T here is included in the above-stated amounts the cost of outfits under the two Bureaus. 


Appendix No. 5. 


List of new vessels already authorized which will probably be commissioned during 
the fiscal years 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910: 


December, 1906, to June 30,1907: 
Battle ships— 

Nebraska. 

Vermont. 

Kansas. 

Minnesota. 

Armored cruisers— 
California. 

South Dakota. 

-1907-8: 

Battle ships— 

Mississippi. 

Idaho. 

New Hampshire. 
Armored cruisers— 

North Carolina. 
Montana. 


1907- 8—Continued. 
Scout cruisers— 

Chester. 

Birmingham. 

Salem. 

1908- 9: 

Colliers— 

Vestal. 

Prometheus. 

1909- 10: 

Battle ships— 

South Carolina. 
Michigan. 











































249 


Appendix No. 6. 

Estimated amount of expenditure on vessels under construction , heretofore authorized, 
for the fiscal year 1908. Appropriation, u Increase of the Navy; construction and 
machinery. ’ ’ 


Name of vessel. 

Amount. 

Name of vessel. 

Amount. 

Nebraska. 

$70,000 
80,000 
80,000 
80,000 
70,000 
225,832 
1,080,070 
1,477,312 
1,501,88(5 
1,562,500 
80,000 
80,000 

North Carolina 

$953,137 
1,249, 828 
666,106 
575,157 
674,823 
662,804 
665,889 

878,571 

Vermont. 

Montana 

Kansas. 

Chester 

Minnesota. 

Birmingham 

Mississippi. 

Salem 

Idaho. 

Vestal 

New Hampshire. 

Prometheus 

South Carolina. 

Torpedo-boat destroyers Nos. 17,18, 
and 19. 

Michigan. 

Battle ship No. 28. 

Total.. 

California*. 

12,713,915 

South Dakota. 




Appendix No. 7. 

Statement showing condition of work on vessels under construction for the United States 

Navy on December 1 , 1906. 

BATTLE SHIPS. 


No. 

Name of vessel. 

Speed. 

14 

Nebraska. 

Knots. 

19 

18 

Connecticut. 

18 

20 

Vermont. 

18 

21 

Kansas. 

18 

22 

Minnesota. 

18 

23 

Mississippi. 

17 

24 

Idaho . 

17 

25 

New Hampshire. 

18 

26 

South Carolina. 

27 

Michigan. 





Building at— 


Moran Bros. Co. 

Navy-yard, New York. 

Fore River Shipbuilding Co.... 

New York Shipbuilding Co. 

Newport News Shipbuilding Co 

Wm. Cramp & Sons. 

_do. 

New York Shipbuilding Co. 

Wm. Cramp & Sons. 

New York Shipbuilding Co. 


Per cent of 
completion. 


'lov. 1. 

Dec. 1. 

97 

97.5 

99. 72 

99.72 

95 

96 

93.1 

95.2 

97 

98 

67. 82. 

69.6 

64.03 

65.15 

54.3 

57 

.6 

3.14 

.85 

1.51 


ARMORED CRUISERS. 


6 

9 

12 

13 

California. 

22 

22 

22 

22 

Union Iron Works. 

96.1 
93.4 
63.28 
36.84 

97 

93.5 
66. 35 
60.62 

South Dakota. 

.do. 

North Carolina. 

Newport News Shipbuilding Co. 

Montana. 

.do..*. 





PROTECTED CRUISER. 



21 

Milwaukee. 

22 

Union Iron Works. 

99.4 

99.9 







TRAINING SHIPS. 


Cumberland. 

Sails.. 

Navy-yard, Boston. 

99.9 

99.9 


Tnt.repid. 

Sails.. 

Navy-yard, Mare Island. 

100 









SCOUT CRUISERS. 


Chester . 


Bath Iron Works.^. 

51.9 

50.7 

50.7 

Birmingham 


Fore River Ship Building Co. 

Salem 


.do... 

























































































































250 


Statement showing condition of wovk on vessels under construction for the United States 
Navy on December 1 , 1906 —Continued. 

SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOATS. 


No. 

Name of vessel. 

Speed. 

Building at— 

Per cent of 
completion. 

Nov. 1. 

Dec. 1. 

.... 

No. 9. 

Knots. 

Fore River Ship Building Co. 

90 

81.5 

92 

78.8 

90 

82.72 

92 

81.1 

No. 10. 


.do. 

No. 11. 


.do. 

No. 12. 


.do. 





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